817/Being Mahou Shoujo Is Hugging

Being Mahou Shoujo Is Hugging
Date of Scene:	07 January 2016
Location:	Mitakihara - Downtown
Synopsis:	Homura and Madoka have a small text conversation. Then a small verbal conversation. Then a longer one. They finish off with a really long one, and a few hours of hugging.
Cast of Characters:	Madoka Kaname, Homura Akemi

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Madoka Kaname has posed:
    It's mid to late morning and Madoka has finished eating breakfast with her family. School is out so she hasn't bothered getting dressed yet and now she's back in her room, ostensibly to do some of her winter reading. After reading for a little while she gets to thinking. She hasn't seen Homura for a few days, which isn't itself a tragedy, but she's wanted to talk to her for a few days.

    Did she figure she'd just bump into her by random on the streets of Tokyo? Yes, actually.

    It's not like that hasn't worked in the past.

    After another moment of thought she gets her phone out and decides to send a text to Homura.

    TXT from Madoka Kaname: Hi, Homura-chan! Are you busy? I have a few things I want to talk to you about if you have the time.

    She sets her phone down next to her and gets back to reading. It could be hours before Homura sees it, for all she knows.

Homura Akemi has posed:
    When the text comes, Homura Akemi is gracelessly snoring in her bed, arms dangling over the edge, messy bedhair spread all over her pillows with several stray locks draped over her shoulders and face.

    The ping of her smartphone immediately wakes her up. Especially since that particular ping was set aside for a very particular someone so that Homura would know immediately if Madoka needed something from her. She blinks awake, slowly sits up in her bed, looks over to her cellphone, and picks it up.

    She reads the text. After a moment, she sends a response.

    TXT from Homura Akemi: Hi, Madoka-chan. That picture you sent last night was really cute.

    Well it was. Regardless of what horrors she might wish upon Teddyashi.

    TXT from Homura Akemi: Go ahead and ask. What do you want to talk about?

    From the tone of Madoka's text, it sounds potentially serious. If Madoka needs Homura for something, she's glad to respond.

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    Whatever horrors may be in store for Teddyashi for now he remains sitting calmly beside her bed, quarter stern expression on his fuzzy-wuzzy face.

    Madoka's phone buzzes quickly enough the she laughs a single note while smiling, setting her book face down before picking it back up. The first response brings a smile to her face.

    TXT From Madoka Kaname: Hehe! I'm glad you liked it.

    Right as she sends the response another text comes in and she reads it too. She pauses for a moment to think before sending the next reply.

    TXT from Madoka Kaname: I talked with Sayaka-chan and she said she's going to have a truce with you.

    A moments pause.

    TXT from Madoka Kaname: Did you have a fight with her..?

    Toneless text has a hard time portraying the confused skepticism Madoka asks that question with, but the fact the next words come through quickly might help.

    TXT from Madoka Kaname: She asked me to tell you she wants to talk to you soon. About that Walpubris thing and your new friends.

    Anyone who thinks Madoka would know or figure out how to spell Walpurgisnacht having only ever heard the word spoken aloud doesn't know her very well.

Homura Akemi has posed:
    Homura lets out a sleepy yawn while waiting for Madoka's response. She runs her hand through her messy hair as her half-open eyes read the texts appearing on the screen. Still a bit slow-minded since just waking up, and also taking her time because it doesn't sound like an emergency, Homura takes a few seconds to respond.

    TXT from Homura Akemi: A truce, huh? That would be nice. Did she mention anything about the meeting? Did Kyouko or Mami tell her yet?

    It occurs to Homura that Homura hasn't even told Madoka about the meeting yet. She's not quite awake enough to realize that she should remedy this problem.

    TXT from Homura Akemi: Fight is a strong word. We have philosophical differences that keep us from truly trusting one another. However, we were able to work together well enough the other day.

    There's a few seconds between that text and the next one, as sleepy-Homu tries to figure out how to put things.

    TXT from Homura Akemi: I was mad at her because she was focusing on being mad at me instead of watching her back. Also I don't have a lot of faith in her abilities and I think she picked up on that. However we saved eachother's lives at various points during that fight so I think there is at least some basis for an understanding there.

    TXT from Homura Akemi: My new friends? You mean the Inquisition? As much as I trust them on a moral level, I don't really know if they're strong enough to match the Holy Quartet. They need more training. I will be glad to talk to her about Walpurgisnacht at the meeting, however.

    Homura is at least assuming that particular jumble of letters is supposed to be Walpurgisnacht. People misspell it so often that she's just come to think of any combination of 'Wal' followed by a string of letters is probably a reference to Walpurgisnacht.

    It also doesn't occur to her that no one knows what the Holy Quartet is since it hasn't existed yet in this timeline.

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    Madoka is pretty relaxed in her as she waits for Homura's replies. She walks over to her bed and lays down on top of it, her back nestled up against Matilda. A large blue penguin plushy is hauled into her arms and hugged on as she waits for her phone to beep, peering over it's head at her phone's screen when the responses start to come in.

    She tilts her head a little and sends off a quick response.

    TXT from Madoka Kaname: Sayaka-chan didn't say anything about a meeting.

    She doesn't think too much about it, instead giving her stuffed animal another squeeze. It's nice being able to sleep in and be lazy on a weekday. Madoka considers letting herself drift back off to sleep after she's done talking with Homura.

    Madoka looks back to her screen and feels mild relief as Homura says that they weren't really fighting. She's glad. Some tension is to be expected and so long as it's resolved with words rather than combat it isn't necessarily a problem.

    That's when her phone beeps several more times. Her thin pink eyebrows come together a little and she reads them over several times. The next message from her takes a while to come through as she sits up again.

    Madoka starts typing out long responses several times, deleting each of them and finally letting out a little sigh.

    TXT from Madoka Kaname: That's a lot to think about... can I come over to see you?

Homura Akemi has posed:
    Homura waits for Madoka's response, blankly staring at her phone in her half-awake daze. She's starting to wake up, but it's going to take a bit longer. She swings her legs over the edge of her bed and stands up. While rubbing her eyes, Madoka's next text comes in.

    TXT from Homura Akemi: Yeah... you can come over. Do you remember how to get here?

    Since Homura is now expecting a guest, she figures it's time to start getting dressed and waking up. After giving Madoka whatever directions she might need, or none if Madoka remembers the way, Homura moves from her room to the kitchen, taking out the coffee maker and setting it up.

    She'll have to pick out something to wear, brush out her long hair, and in general do the kinds of things she needs to do in order to make herself presentable. She still has time for most of that, since there's some distance between where Madoka lives and where Homura lives.

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    Madoka wasn't sure where Homura actually was, but the response makes it obvious enough that she's at home.

    TXT from Madoka Kaname: I remember. Thanks, Homura-chan. Do you want me to pick something up on my way over?

    Now why did she add that last part? Madoka actually doesn't recognize that it might be odd it herself until after she hits send.

    But now she has to actually get out of the comfort of her bed and get ready, making a big stretch before going over to her closet and picking out some clothes. She settles on a simple getup, a pink sweater and a white skirt. Short socks today instead of stockings, just for a change.

    A trip to the bathroom to wash her face and do up her hair after she's changed and she tells her parents she's going to visit a friend before heading out.

    If Homura did ask her to get something she'll pick it up, if not she'll head right to her house. She was slowish getting ready so Homura has plenty of time either way but before too long there's a gentle knocking upon the door to her fabulous first floor apartment. She shifts a little as she waits, warm enough in her winter coat.

Homura Akemi has posed:
    TXT from Homura Akemi: That wont be necessary. Thanks, though.

    When Homura answers the door for Madoka, she's alert, awake, well dressed, wearing small hints of makeup... and her hair is still a mess, if somewhat less so. She's actually in the process of brushing it when she opens the door.

    Today Homura's wearing a loose white t-shirt and a pleated purple skirt. It's a very casual look for the girl, but she didn't really have time to dress to the nines today, and it still manages to look more like urban fashion instead of outright laziness.

    Homura steps aside to let Madoka in, free hand running a brush through her long black locks. "Good morning, Madoka-chan. Please come in."

    The smell of fresh coffee still fills the air from the kitchen, and there seems to be a plate of microwaved breakfast biscuits sitting on the table in the middle of the living room. The biscuits are fairly standard for what they are: egg, sausage, cheese, bread.

    Homura gestures towards the food and says, "Do you want some? Also, would you like some coffee?"

    Amy is sitting on the back of a red couch in the living room.

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    Madoka smiles happily at Homura when she opens the door. It's almost instinctual; by now she has enough happy memories with her friend that they are the first ones that come to mind upon seeing her. Seeing Homura not perfectly put together also humanizes her, just like when she first saw her messy room.

    "Good morning, Homura-chan." She was a bit sleepy on the walk over, and thoughtful, but her voice is peppy and cheerful. As she steps through the doorway she pauses to move close to Homura and sling an arm around her from the side. The greeting hug isn't quite automatic, and it certainly doesn't feel perfunctory.

    Madoka looks pleasantly surprised when she's offered food. She's not that hungry, but she's also not completely full, so why not? "Sure, so long as you don't want it all."

    Her head shakes a little at coffee but she asks, "Do you have any juice?" Not being a magical girl means she still doesn't require caffeine in order to wake up.

    Plus she doesn't want to bother Homura with all the sweeteners she'd want put in it.

    When she sees Amy she quickly takes off her boots and coat, hanging it up wherever looks proper and walking over to the couch. She plucks the kitty off of it and cuddles her close, nuzzling against her head a little while walking over towards the kitchen.

    Petting kittens takes priority over food, for now.

    She's also letting them both get settled a bit before going into the complicated issues they spoke of earlier, instead saying, "You should let me brush your hair out for you after we eat, Homura-chan. It'll be good practice for Hair Care club!" A small laugh and a wink.

    She might be serious about that after all!

Homura Akemi has posed:
    Homura smiles at Madoka as she closes the door behind her, throwing an arm around the pink-haired girl and squeezing her with a short side-hug. Madoka hugs are always welcome to Homura, at any time of the day. No matter how caffinated Homura is or isn't yet. It's a little strange to hug with Homura brushing her hair at the same time, though.

    "I don't plan on eating all of them, no. I could always heat up more if I did. Help yourself." At the request of juice, Homura taps her chin. "Um... I think I have orange juice, if that's okay?" It isn't until she walks over to the kitchen and opens the fridge that she adds, "Oh, I've also got some apple juice, and cranberry juice. Any of those work for you?"

    Whatever Madoka's selection is, if any, Homura pours it into a glass and brings it over to Madoka before she sits on a nearby couch. There's a strange-looking coathanger made out of clockwork mounted on the wall near the door, but it's out of the way of the rest of the room.

    Amy purrs and nuzzles against Madoka as she's petted, always happy to see Homura's friend.

    Homura takes a sip of coffee, sets the brush down on the table, and leans back in her couch. With a smile she says, "Well if you want brush my hair, we could do that." The smile falls into... something of a soft frown. It's notably not her normal blank stoney expression. It's more like she's worried.

    "Madoka-chan, I can't help but think that something's bothering you. Did you want to talk about it?"

Madoka Kaname has posed:

    The coat is placed neatly upon the coathanger, though Madoka takes a moment to examine it curiously before covering it up.
    Madoka does her best to shower Amy with as much petting and affection as possible before she starts eating. "Orange juice is good," she replies. When the new options are introduced she changes her mind, "Oh! Apple juice, since you have it."

    She carefully sets the black kitty down to the floor when Homura starts coming her way with the glass full of juice. "Thanks," she says while accepting it, following over to the couch and sitting down nearby.

    She gets herself a biscuit and takes a bite, following it a moment later with a small drink of applejuice.

    Her smile doesn't fade so much as her expression turn slightly more serious as it seems time for the reason she actually asked to come over. Mentally she notes that she should ask to come over to Homura's home sometime for no other reason than to have fun and spend time together.

    "Yes, thank you. It's... well, there are a few new things that I don't know very much about. I don't expect you to tell me everything- Wait, no, that's not it." Her head tilts and she frowns herself a little, taking her time to try to say what she wants to next the right way so there's not a misunderstanding.

    "It isn't going to hurt my feelings if there are things you don't want to tell me. If my questions bother you it's okay if you just tell me that." Madoka says carefully, not quite meeting Homura's gaze because she's focusing on her wording so much. "And not just right now," she pipes up quickly after, her voice rising slightly.

    A moment later her head lowers and she looks embarrassed, "...that was a little more dramatic than I wanted. It's just something I thought was important for me to say." A little sigh is made at her own expense.

    She turns a little in her seat then, so that her legs and body are pointing slightly towards Homura, engaging the black haired girl as she means to begin the conversation proper. "There are a few things I don't understand," she begins again. "About the 'Inquisition' and the 'Holy Quartet'. I know that's what you're calling yourself and your friends, but I've never head of the other thing before. What is it? Is it another group of magical girls?" Her head tilts slightly, "Are they dangerous, if you have to match them?"

Homura Akemi has posed:
    As Amy sees Madoka start to eat, the black cat jumps down from the back of the couch to move over to Homura's lap, where it lays down and purrs as Homura slowly pets it. Homura listens as Madoka gives her pre-amble. When Madoka says that her questions might bother Homura, the black-haired girl freezes midpet.

    Oh. Oh. She's talking about something else. Alright. Homura's hesitation passes and she resumes petting Amy.

    "You can ask. I can't promise I'll give every answer. Some secrets are dangerous to share. Or know. Aside from those things, I'll happily answer you, even if the answers are a bit awkward."

    When Madoka asks about the Inquisition and the Holy Quartet, Homura thinks back. When did she mention the latter? Did she actually say that earlier when she was texting Madoka? Geeze, don't drink and text, Homura!

    Still, compared to the kinds of things she might've spilled, that's not nearly as bad. "I think in order to explain all of that, I'd have to first explain the Holy Quartet. In this current timeline, many of the veteran Puella Magi in this town are at each other's throats, but that's not how it always is. Sometimes, especially in my first few timelines, we'd get along just fine. The Holy Quartet consisted of Mami Tomoe, Sayaka Miki, Kyouko Sakura and myself."

    Technically that's not true. Madoka was there, not Kyouko, but the last thing Homura wants to do is make Madoka feel like she's necessary to defeat Walpurgisnacht.

    Homura frowns, scratching Amy behind the ear, before she says, "... but... that never worked out. I tried, Madoka-chan, I really did, but as I discovered more and more about the horrors of being a Puella Magi, I slowly came to realize that it was impossible to get the four of us to work together. So I chose not to rely upon them. Since they were the only ones around, not relying on them really meant not relying on anyone."

    Homura looks away from Madoka for a moment, and says, "I wanted to match that group, not because they're a threat, but because I need that level of power to survive the things ahead. I would like it if Sayaka, Mami and Kyouko made it that far this time..."

    Her head tilts down for a moment, before she turns back to Madoka, "... but it's hard to be that optimistic."

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    Madoka feels the urge to wince every time Homura pauses like that, seeming to completely freeze in a short moment of what she thinks must be icy terror. She feels the urge because she knows what causes it; the worry that Madoka is going to make a contract. That she's one step closer to it.

    And that makes Madoka feel bad. She doesn't like causing Homura pain, even if it's a mistake, even if it's accidental. Those reflexes, are they her fault? Caused by the actions of her countless past selves who despite warnings and protection either disregarded Homura's advice or got herself killed.

    Most days Madoka would remain quiet, let the moment pass. Try not to bring attention to it so it can be a momentary blip in an otherwise happy day.

    This time she approaches it, if only a little, because she's hear to talk about potentially uncomfortable topics anyway. "No, it's not about that, Homura-chan. Nothing about that has changed since we talked about it last." She leans over, briefly setting a hand gently on Homura's knee and offering a small, somewhat bittersweet smile before pulling back to where she was before.

    The Holy Quartet is explained, if not in perfect detail, and Madoka looks visibly relieved. Not some group of rival magical girls that are coming sweeping in for some other city, then. Given what happened with the White Flower it's hardly unprecedented.

    "I see..." she says softly. She isn't upset, not at all really. But 'working together never worked' is a bitter pill to swallow for someone who holds not-so-secret hopes of everything working out so that everyone cooperates in friendship. "So you made your new group because things are going to be very dangerous."

    There's a... lack of concern in her tone that's odd, and perhaps easily misunderstood. It's not that she doesn't care that things will be dangerous, it's that things seem to always be dangerous. She hasn't ever talked to Homura about those times when magic lit up the skies of Tokyo, or when Youma and Witches wandered the streets in seemingly unending hordes, but Madoka was hardly oblivious to it.

    Many of those times she was still terrified of the magical world and it's dangers and simply hid under her covers in bed- no one else in her family so much as noticed anything odd. Lucky for her nothing noticed her, either.

    For the purposes of this conversation now it means that she doesn't question the need for such a group. She'd probably encourage it anyway even if there was no need anyway, because working together for a common cause appeals to her.

    "Things are different this time," she notes in response to Homura's last comment. "You've said that things are very different from how they were every other time. But if you still have a hard time being optimistic, I will be enough for the both of us." She gives Homura a genuine smile, even if she has more difficult questions to come.

    And the next one comes quickly. "One thing I don't understand, though..." She puts on a concerned frown, slightly confused. "Why the 'Inquisition'? I looked that up and... those were a bunch of really terrible people, Homura-chan. Why would use the name of something so awful and cruel?"

Homura Akemi has posed:
    Homura Akemi blushes and looks away for a moment as Madoka says 'no it's not about that'. Then it takes Homura a moment to figure out what Madoka's responding to. "Oh... well I mean... sorry. Just... nevermind."

    She closes her eyes and clears her throat, then looks back at Madoka. "This is just... the most delicate time. Next month, if everything works out, it should be a lot better. I hope."

    When the conversation goes back to the Holy Quartet, Homura nods. "At first, I thought that WPS could replace the Holy Quartet, but I don't think I can have faith in that anymore, either. Honestly, if I still had my power to reset time, I'd go back and side with Virtue, not Eclipse. Maybe then Masako and Basu could still be alive."

    She continues petting Amy until the black cat hops off of her lap, and wanders off across the white carpet. "... but now things are complicated. I can't just leave WPS right now. It'd be irresponsible. Yet I still need something that I can put my hope into. So I gathered together the Inquisition."

    Madoka says that she'll be optimistic enough for both of them, and Homura smiles. Her purple eyes seem to be a bit watery. She'd probably try to hide her emotions at this point, but around Madoka she feels like she can lower her guard. "When you say things like that, it does give me a bit of hope, Madoka-chan."

    Homura blinks, and then looks away when the choice of name is questioned. She has to clear her throat again, before she looks back at Madoka.

    "Well... in western culture, most forms of the phrase 'witchhunt' has negative connotations. It's almost impossible to have a name that refers to hunting Witches without in some way referring to something terrible that was done in the name of a higher power..."

    Homura glances away, "There's also something in that which I'm not very comfortable sharing. It's exactly the kind of thing that would be dangerous to share. All I can say is that I don't really want to come up with a heroic name, because while I consider what Puella Magi do to be necessary, I cannot consider it heroic. The only people who can even think of it in those terms are people who don't know the full truth."

    Homura shrugs sheepishly, adding, "Maybe that's not a good reason. Honestly a lot of the group members thought it sounded cool. A lot of our wishes and powers matched the aesthetic, too."

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    Madoka eats more of her breakfast biscuit while Homura talks, because if she doesn't now she probably won't and she's not about to take a bite out of it and then not touch it afterwards. She hums a little to herself.

    Walpurgisnacht is coming, and historically speaking(is that even the right term when dealing with timeloops?) Homura has been left alone to try and fight it on her own. This time around everything is changed, but Homura is worried she made the wrong choices.

    "It's okay to make mistakes, Homura-chan. I think you know how to learn from your mistakes better than most people, but I also think you're blaming yourself for them when all that is going to do is hurt you." Madoka is having a bit of a hard time with this conversation. Harder than she'd expected, because she can't just flick a switch and stop feeling the ache in her heart when she perceives that someone is hurting.

    She waits a little longer, until Homura reacts to her words of optimism, and scoots over towards her friend. Madoka takes one of her hands. "You have many reasons to be hopeful, Homura-chan. If my words are one of those, then that makes me very happy." She lifts the hand she took, taking and covering it with both of her gentle, warm hands. She holds it up between Homura and herself deliberately, showing her that she is here, that she cares.

    "If you did reset time, who knows what might change? It already changed once, and it sounds like for the better. And even if everything was the same as it was now, there's no way to know how differently things could go." Maybe there is for the timetraveler, but not for Madoka. But this isn't an entirely theoretical argument she's making.

    "Would you really give up everything that's happened for another chance?" Madoka tilts her head to the side a little, and there's emotion creeping into her voice. "I know things have been bad, but they've also been very good. Mamoru-kun is in distress and needs help, but that isn't hopeless. Maybe working with WPS was a mistake, but there's still time to correct that mistake."

    Pink eyes go from the hands to purple eyes, and her own water a little. She doesn't want to hurt Homura with her next words, but she can't help feeling just a little hurt. "Would you really give up everything we've done together? You told me the more you reset time the further apart we became."

    Madoka's voice cracks and she shakes her head, "I don't want to be further apart, Homura-chan! After being able to do things again for so long it must feel natural to you... but even if you remembered it I wouldn't. I don't want to forget dancing with you, or ice skating with you, or even just talking with you. I don't want to forget how we've become friends. How could I forget Homura-chan?"

    She looks away, holding tightly still onto Homura's hand. "To think that I wouldn't know any better, that I'd see you looking at me and feel nervous or frightened when you should be my best friend. That's... I don't know how you could stand to bear it."

    After all that her response to the answer to her actual question is rather benign. Maybe even a bit lame. "Oh... fighting witches and just because it sounds cool? That's not really that bad after all."

Homura Akemi has posed:
    Homura remembers the biscuits, and takes another one of them for herself. She doesn't eat it quickly, taking small nibbles instead of big bites. It's a difficult conversation to have, no matter how important it might be.

    "I don't know... maybe if I didn join WPS then Kyouko would've never gotten tortured. Or maybe she would've had it even worse, since I wouldn't be around to warn Miss White about the consequences. I suppose there's no way of telling." Homura tries to sound like she's shrugging it off, but deep down she does resent not being able to go back and see.

    When Madoka sits next to her and takes her hand, Homura grasps hers in turn and squeezes it. When it's sandwiched between both of Madoka's hands, Homura watches as it's lifted up, before her purple eyes settle on Madoka's pink eyes.

    "You're saying... even if I could, things might still be different? I suppose it's true that I could end up in some hopeless, unwinnable timeloop like so many of the ones I saw before."

    Then Homura blinks at Madoka's next question. Would she give up everything that's happened...? "I..." She starts to speak, but trails off as Madoka speaks. Her words are like a knife in her gut. Homura wishes she had never said it. To think that she was giving up so much every time she reset... this timeline she'd be giving up so much more than usual.

    Geeze, no wonder Homura was so depressed back then. Madoka's right. She'd be giving up a lot. Thinking about that... "You're right. I shouldn't just throw all of that away for something as simple as picking the wrong job. Besides..."

    Homura smiles, raising her free hand to clasp Madoka's, adding a fourth hand to the three already clasped together. "I wouldn't want you to forget how you saved me. How you helped me, to become a better and happier person. I wouldn't want Mamoru-kun or anyone else who helped me along the way to forget, either. You deserve credit for that. You deserve to remember... to know what I mean when I say thank you, for that..."

    Back on the topic of the Inquistion, Homura chuckles. "Yeah... that's about it. I mean. I actually wanted to side with people who care about doing the right thing, so they aren't really bad people or anything."

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    When Homura brings up one of the very worst results of WPS Madoka feels a little abashed.

    Okay, preventing someone's torture might actually be worth sacrificing some good feelings over. There's nothing specific saying that Homura wouldn't be able to reclaim her friendship with Madoka either.

    Still, with the knowledge she does have now Madoka still wouldn't make that choice herself if it was available to her. At least not as things stand now. Things are far from perfect, but the bad is being mixed in with the good. Her emotion is all about not wanting to give up the happiness she's felt, especially if it means it never would have existed in the first place.

    When Homura asks for a bit of clarification Madoka makes a soft sound and nods. Her words seem to get through, and she manages to return a smile back to Homura when it's given to her. It's only then that the tears that had welled up in her eyes choose to spill over, after the moment of rawest pain has already passed.

    "The time I've spent with you is very precious to me, Homura-chan. Being able to see you smile when you've been so sad, it fills my heart with joy." She pulls the clasped hands to her chest, over her heart, "It's the memories I want, more than the credit. Maybe it's selfish of me, but I want the things that happened between us to stay 'happened'. I don't want to give that up, and..." She smiles embarrassedly, "I don't want you to want to give it up either."

    Madoka sniffles a bit, taking a few deep breaths to let any clinging negativity she felt fade away. "If I was you, I would also be worried everything would go back to the way it was before. Having so many other magical girls and boys around, I think it would be very hard if you had to fight alone again." Compared to her earlier words this is said much more evenly, the girl regaining her composure.

    She considers for a moment, briefly, and then slides the rest of the way over on the couch until she's right next to Homura, and leans against her. She even leans her head over onto her shoulder.

    Forget that part of 'composure', she decides. She's not crying but she's still feeling a little frail and she has a friend who doesn't mind being close or hugged.

    "People who care about doing the right thing," Madoka repeats, her voice soft and approving. She turns her head slightly and looks up to Homura even with her head still there on her shoulder, "I think it's cute that they call you Prophet-chan."

Homura Akemi has posed:
    Homura leans against Madoka as she comes closer, resting her head against hers. "That time is precious to me, too. Really, I'm the one who's being selfish, thinking that I can avoid my mistakes just by undoing them. This is the happiest I've ever been, even before I met you. I wouldn't forget all this if I rewound time, but I wouldn't want to keep those memories all to myself, and I'm not sure how I'd even share them with you if I had to meet you all over again."

    Homura considers what it would be like, fighting all by herself again. She thinks about it, then mutters, "I don't think I could make it. To have all of this and then lose it, by my own actions no less. I've only made it this far, because of the people who are around me."

    The black-haired Puella wonders whether or not she should have admitted that. It's too late to take it back, but really... she wouldn't have gotten this far by herself. She had to open herself up, first.

    She nuzzles against Madoka, adding, "All those precious memories, the ice skating, the concernt, the karaoke the dancing... and even some of the hard times, like when I visited you after Mamo-kun was taken, and you were there to comfort me. All of the kindness you've shown me, and all of the fun we've had, I wouldn't want to lose that."

    She squeezes Madoka's hands, before adding, with a whisper, "... but if something happened to you, then for your sake, I'd give up anything, even precious memories like that. Who you are is worth more to me than memories, or even this relationship. As much as they both mean to me, you mean a lot more."

    After a moment, Homura adds, "Of course, if I don't have to give them up, then yeah, I kindof don't want to."

    Homura chuckles at the mention of Prophet-chan. "Yeah... we all have, um... titles like that. I guess Prophet is self-explanitory. Confessor-chan has hers because her wish was to have the strength to speak the truth. Sister-chan, because that's how nuns refer to each other, and she wished to never fall in love again. Zealot-chan, because uh... she's very... enthusiastic." That last explaination comes with a bit of a slightly embarassed chuckle.

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    Madoka smiles as Homura responds to the closeness in kind. "I understand why you might want to. It isn't just you who's still blaming you for your mistakes. It isn't fair for people to keep holding them over your head when they've moved past their own." That's about as close to bitterness or resentment as Madoka can get. She might not hold Kyouko's actions against her but she wishes the hot blooded Puella would stop breeding resentment towards her friend.

    She nods softly and hugs sideways onto Homura, "I don't think that's a bad thing. You don't have to do everything by yourself anymore. You don't have to be alone anymore. I'm here for you, and there are others that are here for you as well. Maybe it isn't normal for a Puella Magi to be supported by friends, but I think it's wonderful and something to celebrate. Friendship is a strength, not a weakness."

    Words like that have always been the crux of Madoka's philosophy, regardless of timeline. She's always believed that if people pull together and work as a team they can overcome any obstacle with things only going wrong when that teamwork breaks down.

    The nuzzle gets a giggle from Madoka and she returns it, rubbing it against Homura's before tilting her head away for a moment of cheek against cheek. "And I wouldn't want to forget all the times you've protected me. I don't want to lose knowing how much you care for me, how much I mean to you, or how much you mean to me. Those are the most important things."

    Madoka chooses to take a positive spin on Homura's whispered words, squeezing tightly onto her hands, "Then I have to make sure nothing happens to me. Luckily I have a lot of friends looking after and taking care of me!" She giggles a little while returning the squeeze onto Homura's hands.

    Most of the information about Homura's Puella group is absorbed quietly, though at the mention of someone wishing never to fall in love Madoka shifts uneasily. That's... such a sad thing to spend a miracle on. She doesn't want to think about what might have happened for someone to wish that upon themselves.

    After a few more moments Madoka closes her eyes and rests lazily against Homura. Rather than stifling a yawn she lets it out. "I want a sip of my juice," she notes, "but I want to stay next to you more." Madoka smiles to herself.

Homura Akemi has posed:
    Is it really unfair? Homura considers... yeah, actually it kindof is. For Homura alone to bear the weight of... not even her sins, but someone else's. It's actually kindof ridiculous. It was even ridiculous back then. It's not like White-san needed Homura's written permission to hurt Kyouko. Heck, it really isn't even like Homura could've stopped it without endangering far more innocent Puella Magi than Kyouko ever was.

    The thought of it makes her a bit angry. She made enough mistakes on her own. She didn't need to bear the weight of someone else's, too.

    Homura grows sullen and quiet for a moment, but as Madoka moves closer, Homura wraps an arm around Madoka in turn, holding her close. "I've never thought of friendship as a weakness. Pride, though... pride is the weakness that destroys us. No one wants to give up that pride, and that's why we can't just be friends."

    Really, Homura's past experiences would only validate Madoka's philosophy on friendship. The problem is the 'breakdown in teamwork' part that Homura just can't get past.

    Homura holds Madoka closer, whispering, "I'll always protect you, and you'll always mean that much to me Madoka-chan, so even if you forget I'll just show you again."

    Homura considers Madoka's response. It's true. There are a lot of people protecting Madoka, or willing to protect her, right now. She'd be safe, no matter what.

    Homura smiles as Madoka rests against her, and Homura wraps her other arm around her too. Then the black-haired girl blushes upon hearing what Madoka is saying. Maybe Madoka doesn't mean it like that, but it's a very romantic thing to say. Eventually she settles on a response of: "I don't think I can reach it with my arms around you, either. Whatever will we do?"

    Amy wanders up to the couch, looks up at the two of them and mews cutely. Then she wanders off again.

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    If Homura is angry about it Madoka can't blame her for it. If she knew how upsetting it was to her she'd probably spend the night weighing the emotion of anger at being treated unfairly against the emotion of bitterness caused by dwelling on past mistakes. Can anger be cathartic when compared to that kind of acidic self loathing?

    The arm going around her and holding her near puts a light happiness to the quiet expression on her face. It's easy to forget the bad things and focus on the good ones when she's able to close like this. "Then maybe what people need is to take pride in friendship."

    She's only half joking. Taking pride in a group effort is a different beast than being prideful only in one's own values or accomplishments.

    Madoka turns a little more as she's pulled closer so that she's turned a bit more into an actual hug than simply sitting nearby. "I believe in you," she whispers back.

    She giggles as Homura moves to put both arms around her, indulgently snuggling close while letting her eyes shut.

    If she knew that her words were putting a blush on Homrua's cheeks created by romantic feeling she wouldn't have said them, and might even shyly pull away. She simply wouldn't feel right giving people romantic feelings while she's dating someone else. She's a lot more romantically aware than she was a few months ago, but right now Madoka doesn't even see Homura's blushing, let alone intuit it's cause.

    For all the sweet words that have passed between them she remains almost completely oblivious to any romantic inclinations towards her. Her depth of feeling and emotion for Homura is immense, but as of yet it's entirely platonic. It's not something she's ever even seriously considered. Maybe if she had she'd be at least a little careful snuggling so close, but as it is she isn't.

    "Hugs are more important than juice," Madoka says with a little giggle, as if this answers the question definitively. She opens her eyes as Amy walks past, waggling her fingers to the cute kitten, offering pets if she decides to investigate but not worrying if something else catches her interest instead.

Homura Akemi has posed:
    'Take pride in friendship'. Homura considers those words. Madoka might have been half-joking, but there's a bit of wisdom in there that Homura can't just ignore. "Well, I'm proud to be your friend, Madoka-chan. I'll always be proud of that."

    When Homura hears that Madoka believes in her, she sheepishly grins, holding her tightly as Madoka snuggles close.

    Homura feels a bit guilty that Madoka doesn't seem to know. In a way it feels like she's lying to her, or taking advantage of her innocence, by letting her cuddle this close without saying how it makes her feel... but at the same time it feels like saying it would be a betrayal. What's important is that they're together and happy, right? It doesn't have to be romantic.

    It wouldn't bother Homura if it was romantic, though.

    As it is, she finds herself wondering which betrayal would be worse: Telling Madoka or hiding it from her. Homura chooses the betrayal that she could always take back later.

    Besides, it's not like she would turn down Madoka's hugs if friendship was the only thing between them. She's only letting her jealousy cloud her judgement. Of course, she wouldn't be getting jealous unless there was some kind of romantic feeling in her heart somewhere.

    Homura giggles. "Hugs are very important," she agrees. "Especially when shared with people who are very important to you."

    Amy stops as she sees Madoka's wiggling fingers, plodding towards the couch, rising on her back legs and placing her front paws on the furniture. After a moment, Amy hops onto the couch, settling between the two girls, and nuzzling into Madoka's petting.

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    Madoka smiles, but gives a tiny shake of her head and makes a correction. "Be proud of -our- friendship, Homura-chan! It wouldn't work if it was just you or just me trying to be friendly."

    Madoka wouldn't even blame Homura if she found out. She'd blame herself. That might be just as bad or worse, however. Is it taking advantage of her innocence? Maybe. That likely depends on how much of the enjoyment from the cuddling is from the simple physical enjoyment of it and the wholesome joy of being so close to a friend compared to that romantic pleasure.

    A little twinge or tingle of guilty pleasure is one thing, while greedily basking in it is entirely another, especially if it's mixed with feelings of 'stealing' it from the another's partner.

    As it stands Madoka is blissfully ignorant of any romantic feeling harbored for her and also completely free of such complicating thoughts of her own. For her it's just an exceptionally happy moment where she can physically express her delight at spending time with her closest friend. It feels wonderful and joyful, and in this moment right and good.

    That's not to say if someone pointed out to her that her boyfriend might be perturbed by it if he saw she wouldn't agree after thinking it over.

    "I'm beginning to think hugs might be the most important," Madoka responds playfully. The nod she gives to the addendum to that sentiment is entirely serious though. The more important the person, the more important the hug!

    When Amy comes to investigate and decides to stay Madoka smiles happily, petting the kitten slowly and further relaxing against Homura. The earlier sadness seems to have been completely wiped away. The single tears might have dried on her cheeks, but her smile shows that they're more than made up for. She won't forget the thoughts or the emotions that brought them on, but for right now she's only happy.

Homura Akemi has posed:
    It's debatable how much physical enjoyment Homura could get out of it due to being a literal zombie. The ability to disconnect her body from her soul comes with the temptation to ignore the body altogether, especially when it's inappropriate. If Homura thought of it as a matter of physical enjoyment vs. emotional attachment, well... it's clear to her that it's largely emotional. It's just that her heart has been broken too many times, and it doesn't work as it should anymore.

    It is very fitting for Homura to be the selfish devil next to Madoka's purely kind goddess, but Homura's is a devil born out of love tainted by pain and heartache. Homura can barely tell the difference between the love and the pain anymore.

    Besides, really, hugs are what friends do. Sleepovers too, really. On the other hand, telling Madoka that she saw Takashi with another girl last night, with no further context and all of the things that'd imply? That would be stealing, on a level that even Homura's devilish side can't tolerate.

    Unless she knew that it was every bit as bad as it looked. Then it'd just be being a good friend.

    Homura, with her arms still around Madoka, thumbs her soul gem ring for a moment. A small adjustment should at least put some of the more awful thoughts out of her head.

    "I could literally hug you all day," says Homura. With a giggle, she adds, "In fact I feel like we've done that a couple of times." Amy lays down next to Madoka, leaning against her leg as the pink-haired girl pets her. Homura smiles and runs a finger down Amy's back.

    Then suddenly something occurs to her and she mutters, "Wait... what the hell?" A couple of pieces aren't lining up right in her head.

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    It's both for Madoka. Both types of enjoyment are magnified by the fact she was away from all her good friends for years while in America and hugging of friends had gone almost completely missing from her life.

    If Madoka was told her boyfriend had gone to eat dinner at the ritziest restaurant in the city with another girl she almost certainly would take it rather poorly. Shock and surprise. If given detail the shock and surprise would probably give way to an embarrassed feeling that amounts to 'Oh, jeeze.'

    She's well aware by now that Takashi has no sense of modesty when it comes to either gifts or the way he lives his life. It's all flashy lavishness all the time, because everyone has to know he's the best at everything. Literally. He actually said that.

    Okay, look. She sees the best in people. That goddess like innocence can be a double-edged sword.

    "I don't think I'd complain if you did," Madoka responds with a giggle of her own. Amy is getting absolutely spoiled with pets, rubs, and skritches. But that's not an abnormal thing for an adorable kitten. "I think we have." Another giggle, "And a night too."

    Then Homura's tone changes and Madoka blinks a few times, shifting so she can look up at her friend's face. "What is it, Homura-chan?"

Homura Akemi has posed:
    "The night we did that..." Homura pauses, "Well, first in this timeline..." She pauses again. "I actually don't remember if we ever did that before. I think I would if we did. Anyways, that night I really needed it."

    Homura hugs Madoka, and when her friend asks about her sudden outburst, Homura pauses for a moment before answering.

    "Ummm... I'm really not sure how to say this..." Homura pauses for a while here. She needs to make sure she says this in a way that isn't tainted by her own darker feelings. "I hate to spoil the moment by talking about business, but... You know your boyfriend has magical powers, right? Don't tell him I told you that if you don't already know, but like... I've seen him use magic on several occasions."

    Probably best not to mention the part about the girl. It's not like Homura has any idea what that was about.

    "One time I saw him using dark magic, which bothered me because he's dating my best friend and dark magic tends to be associated with... evil people. I asked him about this and he said he was born with it. I can't blame him for that, but dark magic has a very corrupting influence." Homura sheepishly looks past Madoka. If the other girl could see her face, she could see it looked kindof embarassed. She should've said it before.

    "... but actually I already knew he was kindof... no offense, arrogant, and dark energy use would explain that. What bothers me is I saw him using ice magic last night instead of dark magic."

    Homura pauses a moment to think about what that means. She sighs. "I guess I just don't know what to make of it. Sorry, I guess it's not really that big of a deal. It just doesn't make sense for him to not use his full power since he was being attacked by a powerful opponent."

    Homura worries that her story might actually create sympathy for Takashi, but at the same time how Madoka chooses to react to the truth is her choice.

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    Madoka giggles when Homura has to qualify the 'first' time they had a snuggly sleepover. It's a slightly mischievous giggle because even if she doesn't see anything wrong with it her parents would probably not appreciate sleepovers without notice, never mind not being informed about them at all. The magical world and things in her life stemming from it are the only real secrets Madoka keeps from them.

    She stays close but sits up a little when there is more serious things to talk about. Homura tells Madoka her boyfriend has magical powers and her response is to blush. Slowly but surely she gets embarrassed. In fact she outright begins fidgeting. "Yes, I knew he can use magic." That alone probably isn't reason for this sudden nervousness.

    The mention of dark magic specifically gets more of a surprised response that Homura might have been anticipating. "He's never used that around me. I've never seen him do anything evil at all." A pause. She sits up even straighter, and for a brief moment her nervousness is dispelled. "Homura-chan, you know that if he was ever mean or cruel to me I would never put up with that, right? Not for him, or anyone else. Mama wouldn't put up with it either," she adds as an afterthought.

    It's a dangerous afterthought.

    Her head shakes, "He hasn't been anything other than wonderful to me, Homura-chan. That's... it's why I believe him when he tells me I'm special. The way he acts around me- he doesn't act that way for anyone else." She puts her finger on her chin for a moment and looks towards the ceiling, "He still likes to show off and brag, but it feels like he's doing it for me."

    The nervousness comes back as Homura talks a little more. Madoka curls her finger and presses it to her lips, nibbling on it for a moment. "Um... can you promise you won't get mad? I kept a secret of my own."

    She takes in a breath and lets it out. Her eyes are closed. "A couple of months ago Riventon kidnapped me." Pause, "Or, well, a black kitsune girl did? But she took me to Riventon's laboratory. I was really, really scared. He told me I was never going to get out. That no one would ever find me." She swallows a little, and not just because she's worried how Homura might take this very late news. That was the most terrified she'd been in all her magical encounters in Tokyo.

    "But... Takashi-kun saw her take me. He fought Riventon, saved me, and took me out of that awful place." She looks up to Homura with a small smile, "That's one of the reasons I've trusted him so much, Homura-chan. I probably..." No, she's not going to say what she thinks might have happened to her. That's reserved strictly for nightmares.

    Madoka shakes her head quickly, "A-anyway, that's before we were actually 'officially' dating."

    She gives Homura an incredibly meek look. "I'm really very sorry I didn't tell you before! Maybe I should have, but I Takashi-kun's magic, that wasn't my secret to tell. But now I know you've seen it. His magic name is 'Frost Knight'. When he uses ice."

    Homura might be in luck. She's so worried about her own story and how Homura might take it she mentally glosses over the part about her boyfriend being attacked.

Homura Akemi has posed:
    Homura can't really see Madoka's blushing, but she figured if Taka was sharing it with Homura then he'd also share it with Madoka. It only makes sense. The fidgeting does get Homura's attention, so she says, "I thought you might know. Otherwise I wouldn't have said it. I wouldn't really consider it something you needed to know if he wasn't your boyfriend... no offense, just you know... secrets."

    Homura pauses. "He doesn't use dark magic around you...? Interesting. Normally I'd just think he was choosing not to use something that he knows might corrupt him... but that doesn't make sense because when I did see him use dark magic it was kindof... casually."

    Homura listens as Madoka says she wouldn't put up with it. All she says is, "You've said as much before, and you shouldn't put up with it. If your mother isn't scary enough, you do have a well-armed slightly unhinged best friend with a small army's worth of guns. Just saying."

    She listens to the rest of what Madoka says, and she holds Madoka a bit more tightly, "I know, dear friend, but it still doesn't make sense to me."

    When Madoka makes her promise not to get mad, Homura hesitantly nods. When she hears the story... Well, she only promised not to get mad. She never said anything about not being absolutely terrified!

    "What? Wait, what? When did this..." Homura stutters. Why does Madoka keep getting kidnapped without Homura ever finding out about it? Does no one trust her with this information?!

    So Takashi saved her...? Well that answers a few things about why Madoka trusts him... but from Riventon?

    Waaaaait...

    "But... Takashi works for Eclipse! He's one of Riventon's co-workers! ... I mean, okay, so is White-san, like they aren't all irredeemable monsters like Riventon is, but like... That's... "

    One of Homura's arms unwraps from around Madoka and moves to her forehead. She's getting a headache.

    "You could've told me that story without mentioning who saved you, you know. He already had a secret ID."

    Right now, Homura's a bit too overwhelmed to process anything. This is too much information to take in. "... honestly... okay. Something isn't adding up here. There's a lie here and I don't know what it is. I know you wouldn't lie to me, and I'm pretty sure Takashi would, but heck if I know."

    She pauses for a moment before adding, "... despite them being co-workers, I can't actually discount the idea that they'd beat each other up. Only problem with that is... Having seen Frost Knight and having also seen Riventon, I'm not sure Frost Knight would actually win that fight easily. Not by himself."

    After a moment she takes a deep breath, and her arm goes back around Madoka, joining the other. "Sorry... I'm just... worried about you. If anything ever happened to you, I'd tear apart heaven and hell to find you."

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    Homura and Madoka seem to agree with each other when it comes to secret identities.

    There might be a slight disconnect when it comes to how much information needs to be kept secret due to those secret identities.

    Y'know, just maybe.

    Madoka feels like mud and looks like she feels like mud as Homura reacts to this new terrible information. When it comes to sorting out why Takashi would fight Riventon she just notes, "Because it was me?" It's more of a question than an answer.

    She's also singularly unhelpful when it comes to the 'co-workers' issue. "Don't you work for Eclipse, since you work for Miss White?" She doesn't know exactly how that arrangement works. "That makes you Riventon's co-worker, and you ran him over with an ambulance!"

    "I could have..?" Suddenly she gets it. Madoka looked like mud. Now she looks like the scummiest of pond scum after the scummy pond has been drained. "I- I didn't think of that! You're right, I should have told you! I'm sorry, Homura-chan. I thought I had to to keep Takashi-kun's secret."

    Luckily Homura is holding Madoka again, and that calms the pink haired girl down some. She turns in Homura's arms to face her and hugs onto her herself, knowing she probably feels pretty awful too. "I don't have any answers to how or happened, or why. It was so horrible. I... I actually didn't even really get hurt at all, but he was taunting me and I thought he was right when he said I'd never get out alive."

    Madoka shivers a little despite how warm it is being close to Homura, "When Frost Knight came and saved me I wasn't really paying attention to anything around me anymore."

    She reaches up and puts one hand against the side of Homura's head, just above her ear. "Thank you. I know you care. I really didn't like keeping that from you. I never should have in the first place."

    There is one silver lining in all of this if Homura wants to look for it. Madoka was reasonably sure she was going to die, and she did not call out for Kyubey to come save her, or give her a way to save herself.

Homura Akemi has posed:
    "It's a bit less direct than Takashi's association," says Homura. "I don't get a little card to flash around that tells people to get off of my back. Agera-san has that. That said I don't really know how close they are, and I absolutely did run Riventon over with an ambulance and I'm so not sorry for that on so many levels..."

    She considers for a moment before she adds, "Well... maybe I'm sorry about the loss of the ambulance."

    Homura's emotions are way, way, way too spiked right now to really think things through. She's burying her head into Madoka's shoulder for comfort, and also to remind her that yes, Madoka is right here and yes, she's perfectly fine. Yet even now she can't really put actual blame on Madoka for any of this.

    "I don't know what it means. I'll have to think about it. Riventon said the other day that he was no longer concerned about doing anything to you, but even if he says that I can't forgive him for terrifying you."

    Madoka's apology is met with a short squeeze. "It's okay. I just... feel like... maybe I should give you something that you can contact me with, in case you get kidnapped again. I guess it couldn't have been too bad if Kyubey didn't show up. Not that Kyubey really counts as a way out."

    ... it does take her a moment to realize it, but Madoka really didn't call out to Kyubey. Even in a situation like that. "... I'm glad you didn't contract then. I guess Frost Knight isn't that bad..."

    Well, aside from having ambitions of godhood and wanting to rewrite the universe, but who doesn't want to do that once in a while?

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    Less direct? Madoka doesn't know enough about corporate structure to understand about various methods of employment and things like subsidiaries. Probably she could if she cared enough to ask her mother about it, though. As it is she'll take Homura's word for it.

    "You should do that again," Madoka says about running him over with an ambulance. Riventon himself hasn't ever done anything other than be completely evil in front of her, so doesn't make the list of 'magical heroes' who it's not okay to fight.

    Since it's now Homura that needs the comfort Madoka is happy to offer it, cradling Homura's head as it rests against her shoulder and smoothing her hair. ...which still hasn't been brushed out.

    "I haven't seen him at all since then," Madoka notes. "But I didn't see him between those times, either. Even so... I hope that's true. I know we can't trust his words, but it'd be good if I didn't have to worry about him anymore."

    Give her something to contact her with? "The first thing that she knocked my phone away, so I don't think that would work. I'm not sure if there's any kind of magic I could use, aside from Kyubey's telepathy, but he might not want to help me talk to you if I was in danger."

    She smiles a little. "I considered it, but then I remembered everything you told me. I didn't want to betray all those promises I've made you." Madoka turns her head so she can rest her cheek against the top of Homura's head. "I've meant every one of those. He really is the last resort I'd use in any situation."

    There's honestly only a few situations she'd consider it. She smiles a little as she hugs onto Homura. What was it the other girl said? 'Tear apart heaven and hell to find you.'

    Yeah, that sounds about right.

Homura Akemi has posed:
    Homura smirks, which Madoka probably can't see, and snorts, which Madoka can probably hear just fine. "Haaa, yeah, I totally should. Maybe next time I'll crash a plane into him."

    Homura shrugs at the mention of Riventon being believable or not. "I don't think he had a reason to lie. That guy is pretty open about the things he wants to obtain."

    Homura clicks her tongue as Madoka mentions having her cell phone knocked away. "Well, I figured. I mean... otherwise you could've called me. I doubt Kyubey would've helped, too. He generally doesn't help me that much with the telepathy thing anyways. I don't know why. All I did was get in his way and shoot him a few times." The slightly sarcastic way Homura says those last two sentences betrays exactly why she thinks Kyubey wont help.

    So... Madoka really doesn't want to betray the promises she made. She wasn't just saying it to make Homura feel better. Hearing that... "Thank you, Madoka-chan... I'm glad it turned out to be unnecessary. I just wish I was aware of it sooner."

    Homura stays there, holding Madoka for a bit. She rests her head on Madoka's shoulder. "... you don't have to hide things from me, you know... I really do care about you... If there's something I can help with, you can tell me, you know..."

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    "I was trying. Mamoru-kun showed me a phone app that would send a message and my location to both of you if I used it. But I had to get out my phone to use it... and they had magic." That is the downside to that kind of solution. Madoka's not quite tech savvy enough to be able to activate it without looking at a screen either.

    A nervous little laugh about Kyubey getting shot. It was a bit less than wonderful when one moment there was a fuzzy white creature in front of her and a splatter of gore the next. Still, there's little doubt in Madoka's mind she would have seriously regretted making a panicked wish to save herself back then.

    "You're welcome, Homura-chan. If I did it again I wouldn't keep it from you," she manages a little smile as she thinks back to earlier this long conversation, "...but I think I've learned from that mistake. I won't make it again."

    Madoka likes being held. She likes holding Homura, also. She rocks a little from side to side when Homura's head is on her shoulder again. At Homura's words Madoka nods gently. She doesn't want to just keep saying 'I know' over and over again. It starts to lose it's meaning.

    So instead she brings up something that she wasn't planning on mentioning to Homura. Not because it's a secret, but because it's something on her mind. "When I talked to Sayaka-chan I tried to convince her to confess to Kyosuke-san. She... already knows that Hitomi-chan likes him. I tried telling her that she should let him make his choice and actually choose, and also that I could go on double dates with her, but I don't think it's going to work."

    Then with a little embarrassed laugh she adds, "Yesterday I went to ask Kyouko-san for help, because I know she cares about Sayaka-chan." A short pause. "I, um, used Kyubey to help find her. She wasn't where I first look and he showed up and offered. I used his help, but I didn't talk to him much."

    She pulls away from Homura enough to look at her. Madoka has an odd expression on her face. "I... think Kyouko-san might be in love with Sayaka-chan." Her eyes turn upward contemplatively and her head tilts to the side. "Has... that happened before? I was sneaky about it but I told her the same thing I did to Sayaka-chan, about making sure 'Kyosuke' knew that 'Sayaka' liked him and not just 'Hitomi'."

    Madoka actually makes the little air quotes with her fingers.

    "I'm not sure whether she knew I was doing it on purpose but I think it got her thinking about it. I don't think it worked on her either." She makes a bit of a face, "Maybe I'm just bad at setting people up, too..."

    She blinks and gets back to the point. "If Sayaka-chan was dating Kyouko-san... wouldn't that mean she wouldn't be hurt over Kyosuke-san? Do you think that might be a way to save her from dying of heartbreak?"

    She also pipes up quickly, "Oh! Kyouko-san knows that it's really dangerous for a Puella Magi to be emotionally hurt. She seemed to know exactly why I was so worried about Sayaka-chan getting upset."

Homura Akemi has posed:
    "Mamo-kun did that...? I should thank him for that. Even if it didn't turn out to be effective, he tried." Homura thinks for a second. "... actually, I remember something about that, I think. Still... he really did look out for us. I do kinda miss him, sometimes."

    Homura lets out a sigh. "Honestly... this might sound kindof bad... but... when I talk to him now? With him brainwashed? He doesn't remember being Mamo-kun. He calls himself Endymion, but... when I talk to him, it still feels like he's here with me. Like he never even left. He still makes me laugh. He's still fun to be around."

    "... but I can't stand the red color of his eyes. I can't stand the idea that they're doing something to him. I just want my friend back."

    Homura cuddles up to Madoka and smiles as the other girl promises not to hide things like that. It means a lot, really...

    ... but then it gets to matters of Sayaka. Homura listens intently.

    "It's good that you tried that... but you're running into the same wall we always do with Sayaka. She doesn't want to confess her feelings, but if she doesn't even try..."

    The comment about Kyouko being in love with Sayaka catches her off guard. "What?" she blurts out. It takes her a moment to consider it, but her eyes narrow. "... Usually, before she dies, Kyouko starts developing an attachment to Sayaka. I thought it was just respect or friendship. I didn't realize that it could be love. ... all things considered, that could've happened a lot of times, and I wouldn't notice. In my defense I'm generally more concerned with not being stabbed."

    Homura holds Madoka tightly for a moment, before loosening her hug. "It's not your fault, Madoka-chan. You can suggest and poke and push, but whether or not someone even wants a relationship to begin with is up to them. There's only so much you can do. Kyousuke isn't involved in our world, not even to the degree that you are, and that puts a huge barrier between him and Sayaka. It's a barrier that neither one of them can cross."

    Homura holds Madoka tightly, saying, "I bet if Kyouko and Sayaka could be sold on the idea, they might be happy enough together that it would stop both of their deaths. I don't have any insight here, however. Both Kyouko and Sayaka have always been hard for me to get close to."

    "... but I also know, speaking personally, that it's hard for a Puella Magi to want to get close to someone. For example, if something terrible happened to you, I'd probably die. That's not a risk we can really take lightly. It's safer to not get connected."

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    "Me too, Homura-chan. I don't know how much I'd be seeing him since school is out now, but I miss him too," Madoka agrees. So Homura has seen him in his brainwashed state? But it sounds like there is some bit of the real him underneath.

    Madoka... she's really not sure how to take any of that. She'd probably have to decide if she saw it for herself. She knows that's what happened with Kyouko as well. Friends being taken away and forced to fight one another while serving some dark purpose... that really is evil. To someone like Madoka it might even be more even than killing them, even if she's glad he isn't entirely beyond their reach.

    When it comes to Homura's reaction to her thoughts on Kyouko's feelings towards Sayaka, Madoka can't help but laugh a little. Sounds like she didn't know, then. "I could be wrong, but I don't think so. She was upset in a very particular way." And she doesn't have near the experience hiding her feelings and reactions as Homura does, does she?

    Honestly, if Madoka was better about looking at things from outside her own perspective she might catch on a little better. It's just hard when her own feelings of deep, innocent friendship are so prevalent in her mind.

    "I'm going to try to help support Sayaka-chan as best as I can, and Kyouko-san is going to help. Just having her as a close friend to look after her while she fights and make sure she doesn't get too upset... I think that will do a lot of good for Sayaka-chan." Madoka ponders for a moment before noting, "Kyouko-san said they were a lot alike in some ways... like being stubborn. I think she can possibly help her better than me. She might be stubborn enough to get in Sayaka-chan's way if she is about to do something she'd regret."

    Madoka smiles softly and pulls Homura extra close to her for a moment, "It would be nice if love could save them, wouldn't it? That would be like some kind of wonderful fairy tale." A little pause and a giggle, "Or like a magical girl TV show."

    What follows is another long, gentler hug. Homura would die if Madoka died? "Then I'll have to be even more careful to take care of myself, because I couldn't bear it if I was the cause of Homura-chan's death."

    There's another thoughtful look on her face, along with a tiny frown. She pulls away from Homura suddenly, slowly, but completely. "Is this safer?" She asks. It is a serious question, even if she intends it to be rhetorical. "Is it safer if we're not connected to each other, not so close to each other?"

    After another moment she moves right back in, slipping her arms around Homura, sliding them under her arms and then hooking them up vertically across her back, hands pressed flat just below her shoulders. She's comfortable, soft, and warm- especially warm since they'd been hugging so much. That warmth was also so obviously missing a moment ago.

    "Even if this is dangerous, I don't care. I'd rather be in danger and your friend than sad, alone, and safe." Though Homura can't see it right now her smile is back on her face, sweet and gentle.

    "But I don't believe that, anyway. I think this is both happier and safer. That's something I refuse to believe you on if you tell me it's so, Homura-chan."