It's a hot so day out with sparse clouds in the sky, humidity levels just below what might make the heat oppressive. It's the kind of day that people enjoy being outside in the shade or water, or indoors within the safety of air conditioning. Being in henshin is one way to protect from overheating, and being a Puella Magi and brushing off mild discomfort via magic is another. The best way, however, is to be traveling through the air at high speed.
Leaping from building top to building top is a perfect way to accomplish this, and for Homura and Madoka it's a way to accomplish all three at the same time. The high speed and wind thereof means shunting away annoying sensory perceptions is entirely unnecessary and would in fact that would be quite the shame. The feeling of the wind blowing her hair back, twintails fluttering behind her, and ruffling all the ruffles and ribbons on her and her outfit is something she enjoys very much, and one she hasn't been able to enjoy very much up until recently. Now that there are Wraiths to fight moving like this even doubles as patrolling, since although the youma mostly strike at night daytime attacks aren't completely unheard of.
The destination of the two would be a poor choice of targets for a Wraith, however. Aside from the schools there could hardly be a higher concentration of magical heroes than the Earth Court Frat House, AKA Mamoru's penthouse apartment(s). As she nears the building Madoka makes a short detour, jumping to the side of building currently missing a balcony and sending a quick glance at the construction going on from the outside. Eyes sweep over what she can, which puts a smile on her face. Without stopping she circles around to the other side before making a great leap upwards before dropping down and landing on a different balcony, this one very much intact.
Openig the door and walking in, having texted Kunzite ahead to see if he was available, she lifts a pair of white one liter cartons with blue writing on them, giving a bright, pearly white smile, "We brought milk!"
Homura Akemi is moving right alongside her girlfriend and partner. Wind whips her long black hair back. Purple eyes focus on the path ahead, finding landing places that also find suitable launching places. The mental process of tracking and avoiding specific ambush spots or other trouble areas isn't something she spends a lot of focus on. Rather, with her level of experience, it's second nature.
The reappearance of Wraiths does mean that things have changed for the Puella Magi, especially for those like Homura and Madoka who were a bit more reserved in their magic use than others. Most relevant to today, it means that Homura doesn't mind using her magical advantages again, at least in small ways. Grief Cubes and the way that they work make it hard to justify using magic willy nilly, and Homura wants to form habits that prevent her from running out of magic at a bad time.
Mid Jump, she turns her gaze towards Madoka, admiring her fluffy pink twintails as they flutter in the wind. She doesn't want to be too distracted, lest she launch herself into a billboard or something, but sometimes she just can't help herself.
As they near the apartments, Homura lands on a nearby rooftop, preparing to launch herself at the balcony but stopping when Madoka goes off to check up on the construction work. Homura's eyes also go towards the work, and she smiles because it seems to be going well, and then she makes the long jump all the way to the designated backup balcony, opening the door for Madoka.
Homura enters after Madoka, saying in complete deadpan. "We heard you had a cookie situation. We're here to help."
After a pause, she cracks a small reserved smile.
Air conditioning, of course, is expensive, and all too often 'air conditioning' merely means 'one degree cooler than outside' because of years of government lectures. Which is why the Puella aren't the only ones in henshin. The living room attached to that intact balcony is bright with sunlight, but not as glaring-bright as it in theory ought to be; and it's certainly not as hot as that captured light should make it.
... the light application of Kunzite's power currently in use, capturing energy rather than spending it, is polite enough to leave the two Puella alone.
The low table by the couches has been more or less cleared, leaving two sketchbooks, a gardening reference, a canister of Play-Doh, and a small Lego tower stacked at one end, along with a folded paper map marked with Pokestop locations. More prominent are the plates of cookies -- spicy-smelling oatmeal with nuts and raisins and chocolate, shortbread, chocolate chip, something involving orange and yet more chocolate. Also several glasses clustered with a pitcher of ice water.
Kunzite's bow toward Homura and Madoka is steady as ever. "As always," he answers in much the same style Homura used, "you come prepared to save us all."
Granted, he doesn't wrap that up with a smile, but there might be allergies involved.
To say that Madoka wasn't stealing glances over at Homura as her long black hair waved in the wind would be a complete lie, so the two are even with each other in this. It isn't entirely without merit either. The ability to track and quickly assess the status and location of one's partner in a high speed situation is important and the wind-whipped fluffy pink hair may be a distraction, but probably not near so much of one as an aggressive attacker. Probably.
The door is opened for her and Madoka flashes a pretty smile to Homura, giving a tiny dip of a curtsy before walking through, "Why, thank you!" The weak air conditioning is noticed, but it at least seems to be doing the job of drawing excess moisture from of the air. The absorbed light isn't quite so easy to detect, though the (harmless to her) magic field doing the job doesn't escape her notice.
The two cartons of milk are taken to the kitchen, one placed in the refrigerator while the other is opened up and brought back out. After a moment of indecision she pushes a few coasters together before setting the carton down, pouring herself a full glass of milk before picking up some of the cookies onto a napkin, sitting down on the couch and setting the glass on the coffee table, or whatever might serve as one nearby. Again on a coaster, because Madoka has good manners. ...nevermind the shoes, they're magic.
She waves Homura over to her with a sparkle in her eye, intending to share the previously mentioned milk and cookies with her, before looking over to Kunzite. "You might be wondering why we're here." Oddly formal for Madoka. "It's come to our attention that a certain mutual friend of ours is going to be a Birthday Boy." She flashes the white haired boy a bright smile, "We were talking over what to get him and we think we have the perfect idea. Only... we need a little info from you to make it work." Her eyes sweep over Kunzite just then, taking him in from head to toe in a way she hasn't quite done before, studying his posture and expression not so much as his clothing. "Hmmm."
Certainly, Homura's ability to track Madoka's position in real time does help her tactically. Really, it'd almost be remiss to not pay attention to where her partner was relative to her.
Homura bows in an almost gentlemanly way as Madoka thanks her for holding the door. "My pleasure."
The presence of Kunzite's magic does not go unnoticed, though Homura does have to take a moment to admire the sheer practicality of it. Well why not? Heat is a form of energy. Absorbing it from the environment only makes sense, especially if it means Kunzite might be able to use it somehow later.
The array of cookies before them does catch Homura's attention. She takes off her shoes by force of habit, because this is Mamoru's house. She helps herself to a cookie (since the invitation to do so was texted before hand) and nibbles on it while Madoka explains their purpose for coming here.
"You see, Madoka-chan and I were thinking about it, and we decided that what Mamo-kun liked most was the people in his life, so we thought to get him something that, well... reminds him of you." Homura explains it as much as she can, but she doesn't want to give away too much detail. It'd be best if it was a surprise, at least to Mamoru, but on the other hand if there's anyone they could trust to keep a secret it's Kunzite.
Homura has, after all, seen just how well Kunzite keeps secrets.
She tilts her head, watching Kunzite's expression. Mostly his eyes. "We would like to have pictures of the Shitennou, in henshin if we can. It's important that we get your looks right. That is, if you don't mind."
Shelter from the sun and the heat is what Kunzite used his power for first, after all. Not that any of the others are old enough to remember that, which saves his ego from a substantial amount of bruising here and there.
Either magic shoes are exempt from the usual rules of etiquette, or it's just that Madoka is; maybe there's an unwritten addendum to the house rules that goddesses are exempt to the latter half of #5. Kunzite attends to Madoka and Homura in turn, either way -- remaining on his feet, expressionless as usual. Uniform gray on gray and accented in white, only the red-brown lining of his cape saving him from being mistaken for some sworn enemy of the Prism Keepers. Eyes steady as the girls take turn talking, flickering from one to another here and there; mostly staying on the one talking, darting back to Madoka at the words 'looks right.'
"Reassure me," he says at last, neither tone nor posture nor expression changing, "that this doesn't involve plush dolls."
Kuznite might be expecting it, having seen a little of Homura and Madoka together, and having seen Mamoru and Usagi together. Homura might be expecting it too, knowing Madoka so well. She breaks a cookie in two and sets one half down, dipping her cookie in the cool glass of milk and letting it rest within the liquid before lifting it out and taking a bite. "Mmm!" This isn't the part that needs anticipated. What is is when Madoka turns the half-cookie over, dips it again, and offers the dairy-sodden treat to Homura, bringing it up to her girlfriends mouth to feed her a bite of it unless she's waved off.
Because why let a good finger food go to waste?
Homura goes on to explain in further detail what their request and reasoning might be, and just as Madoka is going to dip her cookie once more into the milk Kunzite asks for reassurance.
The slightest crumb of the baked good touches the surface of the liquid as devoid of color, or should it be said as full of all color, as the man before them, a tiny wave rippling off the surface and reflecting off the walls of the glass before returning to the center, crashing back into the cookie in a splash that would be terrifying were it a thousand times larger, or they a thousand times smaller. Soft pink eyes lift from this extravaganza and towards the grey of Kunzite's as the liquid absorbs upwards into the treat, osmosis overcoming gravity as the girl calmly regards the young man before her.
"Perhaps," she replies after holding his gaze for several moments, her voice soft but stern, the tiniest hint of oscillation in her voice suggesting compromise and negotiation, "action figures would be more suitable."
Pink eyes close, and the final bite of the moist yet under-dunked cookie is placed calmly into her mouth.
The offered cookie is taken between Homura's teeth, pinched between them and then drawn into where it is brutally crushed and turned into crumbs. Homura winks at Madoka, before her attention goes back to Kunzite.
'Reassure me, that this doesn't involve plush dolls.'
Homura's expression looks just a little bit guilty, almost in a childish 'oops!' kind of way. She glances towards Madoka to see what her reaction is. Action figures? Hmm. Well...
When Homura shrugs, it's the light lifting of her shoulders, paired with a possible closing of her eyes. It's a subtle, understated thing, but also meant to be noticed. She tilts her head, drawing closer to Madoka while looking up at Kunzite.
"I wish I could reassure you of that, but then I'd have to lie. Although, even if that particular... form of the gift doesn't work, I still think that the sentiment has value. Perhaps we can think of something a bit more... classy? A painting, maybe, of the four of you?"
Homura reaches behind her head, and flips her hair. The locks fly outwards, away from Madoka at first, but then they swing back to lightly brush against her with the tips.
"Of course, we'd also like for this to remain a surprise. At least to Mamo-kun."
Homura takes a seat next to Madoka, pouring out her own glass of milk. She takes a cookie, breaks it in half, dips one of the halves into the milk and then attempts to feed it to Madoka.
Kunzite's expected standard of behavior for Madoka is indeed based on Usagi, with propriety and etiquette turned up a couple of notches. Only a couple. Therefore the sharing is merely the cookie's natural fate, not to be blinked at nor concerned over. It had a good life and an excellent demise, neither stale nor solen. Let it rest.
"There are," he says, "two necessary conditions on plush dolls." As grave as if he were discussing with the two of them some unexpected recurrence of Walpurgisnacht, and the best way of coordinating forces this time. "First. It can't be four of them. It needs to be five. We can arrange the fifth if necessary, or slip the two of you photographs and drawings for any details you need. But it would sadden him to see the four of us alone."
A moment's pause before the other.
"Second. You'll need to make absolutely certain that you do not give them to him in front of Usagi."
The cookie is no match for Homura's teeth; it never stood a chance. But then if it's fate was to be crushed into crumbs perhaps this is not such a bad thing? Disturbing thoughts for a Puella Magi on the edge, though luckily Madoka isn't near to one at all to think them so.
Homura shrugs and suggests another potential idea, restating that it's the sentiment of Mamoru enjoying people more than things. Though that isn't the entire story, of course. The other half is that there are very few 'things' Mamoru couldn't afford to get for himself if they were truly desired. Thus what remains is things wouldn't buy or think of to buy for himself, but the Puella Pair would.
Homura's hair flips and Madoka hears the sound of her hand sliding through it, eyes opening back up in order to peek over to catch sight of it as it catches the light and reflects it, a silken wave of flowing locks. It's a special treat when it swings around and tickles at her arm, something that causes that arm to almost reflexively reach up and slide around behind her, resting over the freshly flipped hair after Homura sits down beside her.
When the cookie is offered to her Madoka leans her head a little closer, lips pressing to the cookie before her teeth bite into it, her bite so even and slow that she can take the chunk of cookie so gently that Homura can barely feel it. Until she gets to the chunk of nut that stops her teeth before giving way all at once that is. Her cheeks flush delicately, and she suppresses a giggle while smiling at Homura as she chews.
Madoka has played the negotiation game and failed, having given away too much in the first round. Luckily her opposite was perhaps not so set against this idea of theirs as she had assumed. She has much to learn, in the ways of the quiet man-of-few-words. She can many times understand Homura's intent without speaking, by seeing only the slightest body language, but in that she has the advantage of so very many of the veteran's own memories, and much time spent together aside.
Her pretense is tossed away, though her manners are not. As ground rules are spoken to her Kuzite is the recipient of a smile full of shiny white teeth that would do him proud- though perhaps not quite so much if the local absorption of light by his energy field includes eye sparkles and toothpings. "I think that can be arranged," she notes on the first condition. "It was going to be a mutual gift from us both. So perhaps two from Homura-chan, two from myself, and the centerpiece from those who would not be left alone?" She's making an assumption on the fifth being the centerpiece- she could very well be wrong.
As to the second condition, Madoka goes quiet. This one is much more difficult. After several moments she speaks up, "On my birthdays Tatsuya, my little brother, is given gifts as well, so that he doesn't feel left out." A tilt of her head, "Wouldn't it be terrible for Usagi-chan to feel left out?"
Ah, the double entendre.
Homura raises an eyebrow. So... plushies are not actually that terrible of an idea? They just... need to be handled correctly?
"That's perfectly fair. I think I know Mamo-kun's Kamen henshin well enough, but considering the set it might be better if it was of Endymion." She glances towards Madoka, and then towards Kunzite again. "I haven't seen that one as often, I'm afraid. Well, actually I've seen a lot of it, but... you know... he had those eyes, and I don't want to remind him of that. It would be better if his plushie looked more like he should."
Homura takes the other half of the cookie and dips it before sending it to its destruction. It dies an honorable death, and it will be remembered fondly for its sacrifice. Once it's gone, Homura says, "Of course, that's up to you. Maybe he prefers the tuxedo. It's probably more representative of who he is now."
Madoka's proposal on the exact arrangements of who gives what doll makes sense, and Homura agrees to it. Regarding Usagi and feeling left out, Homura considers. "Well, it could also be that she might want them for herself. I mean. They're plushies. Usagi-chan might steal them. She already steals Mamoru's shirts sometimes."
The word 'steal' isn't so much said with condemnation so much as, well, the implication of a light-hearted teasing.
Homura considers it for a moment, before saying, "Though... I wouldn't mind giving Usagi plushies of her own. I mean, her birthday present was pretty last minute. Something more tangible wouldn't hurt, considering what she's done for us."
"Using Kamen also avoids any question of there being an issue of lese-majeste," Kunzite says. "Mamoru wouldn't be likely to feel such a thing on his own behalf, but there's a small chance he might be indignant on ours; likewise, one or two of us might be ... overly defensive of Endymion at times. Including top hat and tuxedo should settle both problems."
... someone can always sneak him a more princely version later, if necessary.
... if that someone is Kunzite, it will never be confessed to.
Kunzite nods wordlessly toward Homura's suggestion that Usagi might want the plushies for herself. That, specifically. Because she wouldn't need to steal them; she'd only need to make eyes before Mamoru had the chance to mark them as his. On the other hand, the mere idea of senshi plushies, even unspoken?
Kunzite blinks. Then, very quietly, steps around to pour himself a glass of ice water. It's not that he needs a drink. It's just that taking one is an excellent way to distract himself from the mental image of a tiny Venus plushie with an incongruous Love-Me Chain.
Madoka listens to the comments between Homura and Kunzite with quiet interest as they discus the finer points of Endymion versus Tuxedo Kamen as plush toys. Mamoru potentially feeling indignant on behalf of the Plushy Shitennou is exactly the sort of thing that tells her this is the right kind of gift for him after all, and the idea of it puts a smile on her lips.
So Usagi would kidnap the huggable, squeezable set of chibi Shitennou? Ok, yeah, Madoka can see that. "Maybe it would be best if she wasn't there when he received them, though she'd still see them eventually." Perhaps Homura wasn't serious about theft so much as inviting them over to stay with her and them never returning, but it is intended to be a present for Mamoru, after all.
But then Homura airs her thoughts, "That's true, we were able to give them a moonsilver spotlight, but it isn't something we were planning from the start." Her eyes turn upwards and she considers aloud, "There are five Senshi if you include Sailor Moon herself, right? So if we retroactively said the dance was for both of them together that would end up exactly equal with Mamoru-kun. It'd be fair, at least." She giggles a little, "I bet if she got a set of Senshi plushies it'd be a very good distraction for just a little while, wouldn't it?"
It's only then that she sees Kunzite's reaction to the suggestion, and she gives him a curious look, followed by a an equally curious and mildly questioning one to Homura.
Homura hears Kunzite's explanation. It makes sense to her. Sure, that's the kind of thing that Mamoru would be concerned with. It justifies them coming to Kunzite with this, even if this wasn't their original intent.
"Alright. Well, if you feel that's best, then I trust your judgement. He does like his tuxedos. He's been a snappy dresser for as long as I've known him.
As for Usagi claiming the plushies, well... Homura knows first hand just how influential someone can be when you're in love with them. She doubts that she could turn down a similar request from Madoka, even if it was something a bit unfair.
Kunzite's reaction... doesn't actually make immediate sense to Homura. She knows that Sailor V was a bit of a loose cannon, and the second senshi to directly earn Homura's ire (the first being one she has yet to meet), but the complexities of that situation are something she's only somewhat aware of. She knows that Endymion actually stood up for V. She also knows that V shot up her apartment. She has no idea that his reaction is related to V at all.
When Madoka glances her way, Homura can only shrug.
"Well, the senshi plushies may or may not be a good idea. If we do that, then there's no avoiding the elephant in that particular room." She wears a wry smile, or an almost-smile, as she says that. "Still, a private delivery isn't impossible to arrange. The three of us could lure him somewhere, one of the palaces maybe, and give him the gifts there. Or we can simply hide them in my shield until such a point that Usagi-chan isn't around."
"If nothing else, I can certainly suggest likely times to you once we know what the day's schedule will look like." Kunzite knows that Mamoru will be away from Usagi for at least several hours at one point, for instance -- but that's a remarkably bad time to track him down for presents. Still, stage-managing these things is an old, old skillset.
Very old. Madoka's curious look gathers her a resigned one in turn (technically a change of expression, if not very much of one). "Outdated memory," he says. "Nothing to be concerned about." The senshi are, after all, now teenaged girls possessed of varying degrees of wild enthusiasm and (relatively) normal lives. They are not warrior princesses with potential access to technology capable of wiping out all life on the planet. Well, okay, Usagi technically is, but even his paranoia can't encompass the idea of her turning the Earth into smoking, steam-covered glass. "The only thing I can think of that would make senshi plushies for Usagi a bad idea is the possibility of her doing damage to your eardrums when she sees them. But Mamoru would be more than happy to take care of that for you."
Influential. Yes, loved ones can be very much that. Madoka has been on both sides of that herself. How much she's been on one over the other might be a lively topic of debate, especially if you decide to include previous timeloops.
Homura shrugs, Kunzite tells her not to be concerned despite a stony expression shifting ever so slightly. Usagi might inquire or inappropriately(or correctly?!) go 'huehuehue', and Hannah would no doubt narrow her eyes and demand explanations. Madoka decides whatever it is, if indeed it is anything at all, Kunzite would rather keep it to himself, and thus lets the issue drop from conversation.
As the two others quickly discuss how good or bad an idea Senshi plushies might be for Usagi the pink-haired girl quietly soaks and polishes off the other half of her cookie. Very sneakily she had dipped it into Homura's milk, rather than her own. Kunzite speaks with such authority on the matter of good, bad, and intact eardrums that he is granted another very bright smile from Madoka. She's been lucky so far; no oatmeal bits or other crumbs have stuck to her teeth to make this an unflattering appearance for her. "In that case we might have move more quickly than we originally thought. I do hope they'll both be happy with these." She certainly would be, but anyone who has seen her bedroom would know that.
With that settled well enough in her mind Madoka lifts her cup of milk and drinks it, finishing it off and setting it down. One might think she intended to leave right away, and though she stands up she doesn't head towards the balcony. "There was something else I wanted to talk to you about, Kunzite-kun." Is that right? Is that a name that should hold an honorfic? She isn't sure, but if it does Madoka has apparently decided he's nice enough to be given an informal, friendly one.
"What I'm about to suggest might be silly, and if I'm misunderstanding your abilities please forgive my presumption." Her head tilts and she takes a step closer to him, holding her hands behind her back in an utterly unthreatening, open posture. "If I remember correctly," not her memories, which makes it odd, "you can absorb attacks from others and release them at a later time. If that's the case, I'd like to offer you one of mine own."
She looks sheepish now, toe of her shiny red shoe(sorry Mamoru!) resting against the floor and twisting, as does she at the waist and hips, "I haven't been able to do very much to help protect and care for Mamoru-kun, Usagi-chan, or any of you that are so important to them. But... I recognize in you the same care that Homura-chan so often shows me," that Mamoru has so often shown for Usagi, "you're always looking out for him, right? So if I could help you, give you another tool to protect him and his friends, that might be the best way I can contribute, at least for now."
She smiles again, but this is a softer, gentler smile than the ones from before. Just as genuine, but twice as sweet, "All of you have done so much for me, and the people I care about as well. If I could give back just a little in that regard I'd be very happy."
Homura considers. A schedule of the day's events? That works. Well, actually... "I could deliver them via timestop if necessary, and no one would see it except us. A when and where is all we'd need. In any case, we'll work something out."
Then Kunzite explains about the senshi dolls, and Homura's question is... as answered as it needs to be. "Oh! Well if that's all it is, that shouldn't be too much trouble. We can heal our eardrums if necessary, or Mamoru could." Homura says this pretty nonchalantly. To be fair, it's not an unsolvable problem. "I think I'd like to see that reaction, honestly."
Everyone seems to be generally satisfied with that topic and how it's going, so Homura moves on to the next topic that Madoka wants to bring up. Homura remains seated as Madoka stands, having the impression that she isn't quite done here. Homura keeps eating cookies with milk while Madoka presents her idea.
Well, there's an angle that Homura hadn't thought about in a while. Yet with as much trouble as Mamoru has had, it only makes sense.
"I suppose I could add to that. I don't think my bullets would help, mind, but I have energy attacks of my own now." Kunzite might have heard something about Homura launching purple arrows not unlike Madoka's, or maybe even seen them. Homura doesn't remember how much he saw during the Fiore kidnapping. "If it would help, that is."
Kunzite listens to Madoka's new topic without a blink at the -kun being added, and with a slight nod confirming her recollection of the nature of his magic without taking time to interrupt her. There's a hint of reaction at her words after, a brief narrow-eyed skepticism at the prospect that Madoka might not have done very much -- apparently his opinion on the matter differs considerably. He might be about to argue. But she's still talking, and he still doesn't interrupt, and ... then ...
Gray eyes widen.
He might have more of a chance of arguing with that smile than Homura would, but zero being more than a negative number does not actually make it a useful chance.
He draws a very careful breath, leaning to set his glass down and raking a hand through his hair as he straightens. There isn't yet enough of it to warrant the gesture, really, but it's a lot closer than it used to be. "If you choose to give such a gift," he says slowly, "either or both of you, I would be honored to carry it. But we should take a certain amount of care. The cost to your own reserves is something I trust you both to calculate, always; but there's another possible concern. A Puella's magic is even more closely intertwined with her soul than others', and ..."
Kunzite trails off for a moment, glancing to Homura, not finding any more words there.
"You've shown," he says more slowly, speaking directly to Madoka now, "how very great the strength of your soul is. Even when it is not at full expression," when her wings are hidden, when she does not reach casually across the space between the stars, "that strength still exists. Given the nature of your heart, I don't think that it would ultimately harm me to bear a measure of that strength. But doing so for too long might have ... unexpected side effects."
For some reason, he doesn't seem to be nearly as concerned about the consequences to him of carrying some of Homura's magic. It's not like 'slightly paranoid, mostly-benevolently obsessive stalker' is something he can turn into.
Madoka half turns and smiles to Homura when she makes the same offer, appreciating the gesture her girlfriend and partner is making. She returns her gaze quickly to Kunzite, who seems to be treating her offer with grateful caution. Which is fair, because he doesn't seem like the type to take uncertain risks without a certain measure of thoughtfulness. That suits Madoka just fine.
The actual nature of what gives him pause, however, has her momentarily stumped. At first she doesn't seem to understand, but then her eyes widen and she smiles softly. "I don't..." she speaks slowly at first verifying her own impression mid comment, "think you'd have much to worry about with what I intend. The portion of power I'd give you to hold would be as I am now. Maybe if I went overboard you it would be, um, uncomfortable for you? But I can't afford to be so free with my magic, even now."
She moves her hands in front of herself and clasps them there, "It would be up to you how long you held into it. It'd be a gift for you to use as you saw fit, maybe even one that could get you or Mamoru-kun out of a pinch." Clearly her actual intention, but she isn't going to beat the idea into him. "If it would be a burden I don't want you to feel obliged to accept," she adds after a moment of thought. "The last thing I'd want would be to cause you more harm or grief," lowercase 'g' in this case, "than it would save."
"The concern about our magic reserves is a fair one," says Homura, "but the introduction of the cubes changes that a bit. In the long term, I don't think it would harm us to put a magical shot 'on credit', and there's wisdom in storing up shots like that regardless of whether or not we're around to directly benefit. With Grief Seeds it would be different, but the cubes limit how much magic we can reasonably use in a single fight."
Homura shrugs. These are the kinds of things she thinks about these days. At least, when she isn't thinking about something Madoka related. Probably no one is surprised.
The thought that there might be side effects to Kunzite surprises Homura. She knew of his powers sure, but she didn't know that it would have effects on him as such. Maybe it's been like that the whole time and yet it just never came up while Homura was around. That seems likely enough.
Homura remains quiet while Madoka elaborates on her intentions, quietly sipping her milk and being content to let things play out as they might. Certainly, if Kunzite has concerns, then Homura is willing to assume that they are pretty valid. He has never given her reason to think otherwise.
"Out of curiosity, could these side effects potentially hinder your ability to protect Mamo-kun? Don't feel like you have to answer, of course, but it's a worthwhile concern."
Homura's statement about the cubes apparently runs parallel to something Kunzite was thinking, to gauge from the lack of delay in his nod to her. "Which reminds me," he says, "that I have an interim report on Naru Osaka for the pair of you, in case you haven't had time to interview other Wraith victims; the short version is that it damaged her capability to feel temporarily, but thanks to your action," he bows to Madoka again, "the damage was less than it could have been, and she's largely regained her normal capacity. I say largely because, as of yesterday, her creative faculties still hadn't recovered."
But that's a side issue, and he return to the main one promptly -- particularly when Madoka's renewed smile for a moment prompts faint creases at the corners of Kunzite's eyes. "What you do in your other self," he says to her, "is not something I could ever hold, no. But your heart is the same whatever guise you wear." Apparently it's not the power per se that he's thinking about.
Homura also has a very good point. The scan of possibilities takes place in a second or so, and a blink, and another second to recheck. "Potentially, but not likely," he says to Homura. "Still. If I may, I should discuss it with him. If he's amenable, and neither of us finds any likely problems ... then I would be honored."
A nod of agreement is given as Homura explains about the Grief Cubes. "It would. Actually, if I could hold the attack over time like you could it'd be a great asset, since I could use the magic for it and then purify my Soul Gem afterwards while still keeping it in reserve." It would, in fact, be an almost unfair advantage in a world of very few Grief Seeds. Then again most Puella Magi that last any amount of time tend to have some kind of advantage that could be deemed 'unfair'. This one isn't Madoka's, however.
Homura being unaware of the potential downsides of Kunzite's ability to store energy attacks does get mental note from her, and as Kunzite suggest it would be best to discuss the issue with Mamoru beforehand she quickly nods her head in agreement. "If there's any concern it would be good to consult him." Maybe she's getting the wrong idea, but with the white haired boy in front of him being so protective she begins associating them together as partners in combat, looking after one another and fighting side by side in a way that requires implicit trust and understanding; the same way she does with Homura.
It does occur to her that it may merely be a resonance in the mutually fastidious concern of guardians that Homura and Kunzite now share, to consider all angles before doing something that may end poorly. However, that too is merely rank speculation unless she were to ask, and somehow voicing either of these hypothesis seems like it would be uncouth. And so she keeps these thoughts to herself.
She instead addresses a previous explanation, blushing faintly as Kunzite speaks of the strength of her heart, "Maybe so, but I'd hope my heart is gentle and nurturing more than it is fearsome and overwhelming." It doesn't occur to her for even a moment that that might be exactly the issue at hand.
Of course something earlier spoken of is honestly of greater concern than anything else specific that has been mentioned, and so she goes back to it now. "I'm glad Naru-chan is getting better... but it hurt her ability to feel things? And her creativity too? That... that's horrible! What are they even doing to cause something like that?" She looks genuinely troubled, frowning at what this new information might mean. "The people I spoke to before did seem rather listless and out of it. They didn't seem to really care one way or another." She looks between the black haired magical girl and the white haired magical boy, "These Wraiths... they really are trouble."
Her eyebrows come together and she averts her eyes before saying very quietly, "I feel bad for thinking they might be making things better for us... but of course they can't be good; they're a Puella problem." She sounds a little sad, but mostly?
Mostly she's disappointed.
Naru's... creative facilities? Not just her feelings, but her creativity, too?
Homura purses her lips. For some reason she feels like that's an unintended side effect, though she could start to see how that would upset things and take up some of the karmic debt. "That would explain it, actually. It would explain why people acted listless and yet didn't seem to be drained of energy. If they steal a person's emotions... Huh. That seems... like it might be a bit more sinister than I thought."
After a moment of consideration, and wrestling with a veteran's paranoia. Homura speaks up again. "Especially considering that emotions are tied to magic, it makes a lot of sense. Maybe that's their goal, to remove magic outright. I wonder if they'd go for complete eradication or if they're just reducing the amount of it."
She closes her eyes, and shakes her head. "Still, that only strengthens my resolve. I assumed that they needed to be stopped. Now I know it for a fact."
Homura isn't quite sure what's going on with Kunzite, but she knows what it means to be dedicated to protecting someone, and she wouldn't dare interfere with something that might potentially harm his ability to do his job. Still, that doesn't seem like a sure thing. "If that's the case, then yes, it would be best to discuss it with him. Better to be careful, all things considered. Perhaps it would be best to leave the option open and decide later whether or not we can act on it, and in what capacity."
She glances towards Madoka, and she shakes her head. Madoka may not recognize these words, because she said something similar to Homura at one point. "I don't think it's wrong to hope, Madoka-chan."
"If they're trying to remove magic outright, then it's not working out for them." Kunzite's tone hasn't changed particularly, but again, something about his eyes does; there's a momentary hard glitter, something pleased, but with sharp edge. "I don't know whether the same will be true for their other victims, but that one is finally starting to take a look at her own potential, now." Starting. It will be a while, if it ever happens.
(And that brief flash of visible reaction might provide Madoka with more material to consider. Gentle and nurturing indeed.)