The rooftop of Mamoru's apartment building is slowly, around the necessary hardware that occupies part of it, turning into an extension of the residence just below. There used to be a telescope on Mamoru's balcony, for instance. Now there's a telescope set up on the roof instead, with a seating area around it. Firm sign that no-one is worried about being spied on or attacked by plants anymore is provided by the roses and wisteria that section off areas of the roof like that one; but the largest part of it is still open territory. suitable for largescale experiments or things that might have an uncomfortable chance of exploding.
Hopefully the one that Kunzite and Madoka set up a planned time for won't explode. The white-haired teenager is already out and waiting, all the same, in a patch of actually natural shadow. Maybe he catches on fire in the sunlight, or something.
The nice thing about meeting on a rooftop is that you don't necessarily need to move through the building to reach it when you're able to jump the way that many magical heroes can. Not that Madoka has anything against the idea slipping inside through the balcony first, but this situation doesn't call for it. She does, however, use one of the various balconies as a stepping stone before reaching the top, landing on the edge of the railing before jumping further up.
Frills and ribbons flutter in the wind as she arcs up and over, following a trajectory that defies both physics and the wind. With a click clack her red shoes land on the rooftop, pink eyes scanning around for a moment before finding the pale figure in the shadow, then searching around for Homura in case the dark haired Puella decided to take a more careful look around, smiling when she sees her. A gloved hand is lifted towards Kunzite and offers a friendly wave, "Kunzite-kun! It's good to see you again." A cheerful mood today, it seems.
She takes a step or two towards the white-haired teenager, though lets her eyes scan around the rooftop she's found herself on. "I don't think I've ever been up here before except to jump past on patrol..." Do her patrols for Wraiths take her past Mamoru's apartment? Of course they do, why would you even ask? Taking in the area she nods a little to herself, "It's really nice up here. I bet there's an amazing view of the sunset." A small giggle and she rocks from heel to toe and back, "Kinda romantic isn't it, Homura-chan?" she asks while sending a bright smile to her partner.
Definitely the most romantic room she's seen at Mamoru's apartment, she thinks.
Or maybe Kunzite is just a sane human being who doesn't want to stand out in the oppressive summer sun. Or at least that's what Homura assumes when she finds him there.
Skipping up the side of the building by jumping from balcony to balcony isn't that big of a deal to Homura, especially not in henshin, and while she could fly up she doesn't really want to waste the magic. Normally she might be paranoid enough to check around before jumping out into the open, but this is Mamoru's Apartment. The most compromised location in Tokyo has in many ways become the most fortified location in Tokyo, by virtue of the fact that so much heroic traffic goes through it regularly.
Well that, and the actual magical reinforcements that have been installed lately.
She shows up a half second just after Madoka, landing on the roof as her long black hair whips behind her before settling down. She takes a few steps forward, tilts her head at Madoka, then looks around to see if it's as romantic as claimed.
She smiles. "It is. This high up, you can get a really good view."
Purple eyes turn towards Kunzite, and she nods. "Hello, Kunzite-kun. Nice weather today, huh?"
She steps towards Madoka to put a hand on her shoulder, while still facing Kunzite. This is something they spoke about earlier, and the choice was made to discuss things with Mamoru first. Since this this meeting is taking place, Homura can only assume that they worked out whatever they needed to.
That pale shadow bows in answer to the wave, and steps out from its shelter; Kunzite's cape is heavier than Madoka's ribbons, but the wind toys with it in much the same way. The sun glitters off his hair like silver, as if it could leach still more color from it -- or from him -- if he stood out in it too long. "Good afternoon, both of you." He glances around the rooftop. "I have the impression there wasn't that much traffic up here until Nephrite set up shop. But that's after the sunset."
He pauses for a moment. "Which you are, of course, welcome to stay and watch if you'd like. Two more for dinner is never a burden."
Homura's question wins a moment's pause, and a lingering look, as for an instant Kunzite entertains the idea that she and Naru might be in some kind of weather- and season-related conspiracy. "Useful weather, at least," he says. "Unless you're referring to the occasional showers of pleasant visitors."
It's clearly not talk of the weather that causes the nearest stairwell door to open and deposit a black-haired teenager in a starry navy-blue yukata before closing again, loud due to being weighted against wind and weather. It's also not Mamoru being necessarily aware of the time, since he's looking at his phone screen as he unerringly walks in the direction of Kunzite. "The kid two floors down took the gym again," he complains, furiously thumbing his screen. "If you were playing you could help me take it back before Madoka-chan and Homu-chan get hhh--AGH. WHO JOINED HIM. WHO LEVELED UP THE GYM WHILE I WAS BATTLING IT!"
He looks up, expression made of oncoming justice speech, and freezes.
"Oh hi," he says lamely, after a second. "Don't... let me interrupt. You. Sorry."
Alas Madoka's outfit includes a fair amount of exposed skin for easy heat loss and her skin tone isn't so light that it burns before it tans, and thus staying out of the summer sun for it's own sake doesn't occur to her, a great failure to recognize the struggles of others.
"Good afternoon," is returned in friendly manner. The mention of who the decorator of the area draws a second look about the area, focusing on the telescope for a moment at 'after sunset. "So Nerphrite-kun set this up?" Madoka asks, "He did a great job!" Nerphrite-kun, yes. Has Madoka ever even met him? Certainly not enough for actual introductions-- but he is a Shittennou, one of Mamoru's Brothers, and thus obviously a good person, right? If such friendly familiarity is irksome now might be a good time to pre-warn her!
An open invitation to stay after the business of the day is over draws a softer, gentler smile from Madoka. A brief glance is given to Homura before her eyes return to Kunzite, "I'd like that if nothing comes up before it's time!" Enthusiasm mixed with pragmatism; one never can know when a Wraith or other Youma might decide to change their plans for them.
Homura's hand goes on her shoulder and Madoka absentmindedly reaches back behind her and gives a quick rub to her back. No doubt that arm would have slid around further were this not technically 'official' business. There's no rush of course, but Madoka doesn't often mess around when the topic at hand is about protecting her friends.
Now that pleasantries and comments on the weather have been exchanged her expression shifts to a more serious one, eyebrows a bit lower, a bit less arched on her forehead. "I really am happy I can do this to give you another option when protecting everyone. We didn't discuss very much earlier, but how powerful would you like my magic to be?" A soft smile shows on her face, "I can't really safely replicate what we did at the North Pole," that was a full Grief Seed's worth of magic between the two pair in front of him, "but I can control how powerful it is and how much magic I use for it."
The question is does Kunzite want a harassment tool, a localized arrow swarm, or a wide area-clearing bombardment?
Her serious expression lightens a little as Mamoru strolls in, a warm smile showing on her face, "Mamoru-kun! It's good to see you again." A slight teasing twinkle in her eye, but not about his losing track of time, "I didn't think to ask my father to cook a bento to bring over this time. Sorry!"
For now that comments of phone based Pokemon go over her head, what with school being out not inundating her in such conversations, though the way he gets fired up does make her curious. "Was there... something you needed help with, Mamoru-kun?" she asks with a small tilt of her head, because she's always ready to help her friends!
Unless it has to do with shipfics on the internet. That app will never get installed in her new phone.
The conspiracy will go on unabated, weather you like it or not!
At the offer to stay for dinner, Homura glances towards Madoka with a tilted head, which for her typically means 'I am considering what was just said or about to ask a question'. Madoka apparently reads (or knows) her well enough to accept, with the typical disclaimer.
She grins as Kunzite responds to her attempt at smalltalk with a mention of the weather being useful, and a little bit wider at the mention of the implication that they might be 'pleasant visitors'.
As Madoka moves on to more official business, Homura adds, "The same question goes for me. My magic is a bit more conservative than hers, but it can still be charged."
Then Mamoru comes through the door and he's... talking about Pokemon? Her eyes widen slightly, and she brightens up just a little bit as she says, "Having fun, Mamo-kun? Why am I not surprised to see you playing with cute fuzzy animals?" Even digital animals count, considering what she's teasing him about, and as an added bonus he's even playing on his phone!
Some things never change.
She hears Madoka's question, and she's not sure how to answer. "It's Pokemon Go. You um..."
Her mind is a blank. Homura's entertainment tends to consist of cuddles and cuddle accessories, so she hasn't really been keeping track of the latest apps. She glances between Kunzite and Mamoru, wondering if they have actual answers beside the name of the game.
Before Kunzite can either smartass or get the topic back on... topic, Mamoru sliiidesteps over to Madoka and very, very briefly sticks just the tip of his tongue out at Homura, face scrunching up. But then he shows Madoka the screen, and just as he is, his phone buzzes. "Oh god a Vulpix no you don't understand I haven't seen any in a week here you can watch--"
And he legit gets down on one knee so it's easy for Madoka and Homura to look over his shoulders at what he's doing. And indeed, there is a fuzzy fox-deer-looking thing with a very large fan tail, looking at them from the screen with large, pretty eyes, overlaid on the camera image of the rooftop right next to Kunzite.
He takes a sideglance at the unimpressed white-haired teenager, then touches the camera icon in the corner and squints while he steadies the phone, then takes a picture of Kunzite with the Vulpix.
With a satisfied smile, he goes back to the main 'catch it!!' screen, and demonstrates with apparently effortless ease how one swipes the pokeball to throw it, then watches as the Vulpix bats it away. He scowls and feeds it a raspberry from the items menu, then tries again, and this time it boinks off the Vulpix's head, opens, and sucks it in. The little shaking ball appears and eventually clicks with stars, and it says Gotcha! then Vulpix has been caught! and then it comes up with the stats screen.
"Basically," he explains, "you wander around catching pixel monsters, and you can level them up and train them at gyms, and then they can help you take and guard them. And you get free stuff at landmarks."
Distraction time!
Mamoru shows her the screen of his phone and Madoka leans over closer to see it, leaning against Homura in the process and deciding to go ahead and slide that arm around to rest a hand on her side after all. She giggles when he kneels down to give them both a good view of what's happening, leaning forward over him slightly to get a better look. "Pretty," Madoka comments about the Vulpix on screen, eyes widening for a moment when she makes the connection between most of the image mirroring what she actually sees in front of her.
Poor Kunzite is the subject of two soft pink eyes looking from the screen and up to him, followed by a gloved hand lifting to cover a giggle as they drop back down to the picture being taken on the cell phone.
When the Vulpix is captured Madoka makes a face, "Is it going to be okay in there? That ball was a lot smaller than it was." A few successive nods of her head at Mamoru's explanation and Madoka tilts her head. "And you need help with the Gym?" There's clearly a missing link of some kind here and she asks, "What do they guard them from?"
Homura sticks her tongue right back out at Mamoru, though the light in her eyes seems to indicate she's enjoying the banter. She quiets down and looks over Madoka's shoulder as the prince of earth explains the flow of the game. She takes a glance at Madoka, shrugs, and that's about as much of a reaction as it gets out of her. "Congratulations?" she offers to Mamoru.
Madoka leanings and Madoka hugs! Homura's reaction of wrapping an arm around Madoka probably marks her as a bit of a hypocrite for teasing Mamoru, but pointing out that hypocrisy isn't going to stop either the teasing or the hugging.
She smirks up at Mamoru as he takes a picture, then looks at Madoka. "Um... They protect them from other players trying to take control of the gym. Pokestops and gyms are tied to real world locations, so the idea is that you walk around, catch Pokemon, fight other players at gyms, and so on. It's a way to meet other people who have similar interests, assuming... you know... you watch where you're going."
There's a bit of sheepish laughter at that last part. Homura can't be playing the game that much or Madoka would've caught her playing at some point, but she apparently knows something about it from word of mouth.
"It'll be fine," Mamoru says confidently, then brings up the menu screen for items to show Madoka the listing for 'pokeball': 'A device for catching wild Pokemon. It's thrown like a ball at a Pokemon, comfortably encapsulating its target'. "They're extradimensional, like how Homerun puts ICBMs and helicopters in her shield."
A quick glance up at Kunzite to make sure he's not actually about to kill him, and then Mamoru works on getting back to his feet without stepping on his yukata. "And yeah, there's three teams. When you hit level five and go to a gym, they give you the spiel for which teams you can join. I'm on Team Instinct, which is coded yellow, and Usako picked Valor, which is red. The other team is Mystic, which is blue. There's a kid two floors down from us I ran into in the elevator last week who's determined to keep the gym that's connected to this building. But so am I!"
Mamoru raises his phone in his fist, taking a dramatic stance, and looking even more dramatically to the sky to put his face in profile against the lowering sun. "I will keep this gym even if it takes capturing Zoisite in a pokeball and training him to fight grass types!"
Anyone who didn't think Homura's arm going around Madoka in return wouldn't mean she'd cozy up to her girlfriend even more doesn't know her very well. A warm squeeze is given over and Madoka peeks out of the corners of her eyes towards Homura and smiles.
That's not too obnoxious, right? The rooftop may be A Room, but this room is currently not a private one. Unfortunately for any potential awkwardness from the boys Madoka has little taste for hiding her feelings towards Homura.
Relief shows on her face as she reads the description, only to giggle at 'Homerun', covering her mouth with the hand that isn't currently at said baseball reference's waist. "I don't think she has that in her shield, Mamoru-kun!" she replies with a smile, taking the bait and speaking in a mock-chiding tone.
Explanations about protecting the gym are offered and Madoka lets out a soft hum as she considers the game, only to suddenly blink as one and one go together to make to and exclaim, "You mean you make them fight each other?"
Her expression changes to one of worried concern and she looks quickly between Homura and Mamoru, "But- but isn't that awful? It was just minding it's own business and now you're going to capture it and make it fight other animals so you can do something at a gym? It seems so cruel..."
Homura raises a finger to protest. "I do not carry intercontinental ballistic missiles in my shield!" No comment on the helicopters, and Madoka might notice that she doesn't even blink at the nickname of 'Homerun'. Mamoru talks more about it and Homura doesn't actually have a lot to add beyond that.
Then she tries to imagine Zoi being stuck inside a pokeball. She snerks and the snerk becomes laughter. She can't decide which is funnier: Zoisite being indignant about the whole thing or Zoisite actually going along with it because of his prince.
The one armed hug is maintained, but a bit casual. She decides not to get too gushy beyond this point but she's not letting go either.
Madoka's question, and Homura almost thinks she should've expected that, causes her to wince slightly. "It's not... like that... I mean. It sortof is? It's not like a dog fight where they're beat up and permanently injured in the end. It's not unhealthy for them."
Though, the implication of animal cruelty is there for anyone who wants to make the comparison.
There will be no murder today. They do, after all, have guests. Kunzite remains at a little distance, arms crossed, glowering slightly at Mamoru's phone and its camera. "Tell you what," he says to Mamoru. "I'll take up that game the same day that you figure out how to actually catch Zoisite in one of those things. We could all use the extra sleep."
Kunzite's reasons for not playing do not overlap with Madoka's reasons for not playing, no.
"That's originally why I didn't play the other Pokemon games," Mamoru tells Madoka firmly, "but then I realized a few things. First, it's a video game and no actual animals -- or monsters -- are involved at all, nevermind getting hurt. Second, it gets people out walking who would be playing videogames on the couch instead. Third, it actually gets strangers friendlier with each other and less likely to be mean because so many people are playing the same game."
Then he grins and waves a hand. "Besides. I'm on the team that trusts their Pokemon to do what they want, and that focuses on hatching them from eggs and bringing them up. And you can always give them to the Professor to set free. And? If they don't WANT to fight, they run away anyway and you can't chase 'em. So even given they're fake pixel monsters, you don't even have to worry..."
He trails off, glances at Kunzite, glances at Homura and stage whispers, "Of course you put ICBMs in there! You put the contents of my apartment in there too, don't even lie." Then he lifts his hands and edges away from the two girls, but stays safely out of reach of Kunzite too, giving him a 'getting away with murder' smugface. "Working on it," he says airily, then crosses his arms in his sleeves.
Even though she also protested that Homura's shield doesn't carry such ridiculous things Madoka taps her finger against her cheek thoughtfully, "You do have an awful lot of oddball stuff in there, though."
She smiles as Homura laughs, because she always enjoys hearing her laughter. The lack of extreme snuggleup doesn't seem to bother her too much either; they are here for an important reason after all, they've just been sidetracked a little bit.
She listens to Homura first and then Mamoru second as they explain that it's not actually as bad as it might seem to her at first blush. Mamoru having decided this game was okay where previous ones were not seems to have particular importance and she goes back to having a fairly neutral expression, which means a smile in present company. "That doesn't sound so bad. Especially if you can treat them nicely and set them free if they don't want to fight."
The talk about putting an actual person in the Pokeball gets a mildly embarrassed look from her, even though she's ninety-five percent sure they're joking.
...that five percent is worrying.
Another small squeeze to Homura as a preface to letting go and stepping forward another step towards Kunzite. "Have you thought about it much," she asks, once again turned serious, "of how strong an attack you'd like to have? I don't want to burden you unnecessarily."
"Technically... Wait a second."
Homura reaches around Madoka, temporarily and coincidentally hugging her with both arms, in order to reach into her shield and pull out a pair of red rimmed glasses which she immediately puts on. Madoka might recognize these from old pictures.
Then she raises a finger. "Technically I only put small things inside my shield. All of your furniture was transported using a moving truck and timestop because it was too big for my shield."
Nerdy explanation finished, Homura flips her glasses closed and puts them into her shield as if nothing ever happened. "Well actually, I don't know if it's too big, but considering just how many times I've pulled a random spoon out of my shield I'd rather not start messing with tables or wardrobes."
All mention of Zoisite being a disruptive influence goes right over Homura's tilted head. She knows he exists, but that doesn't mean she knows him well.
She releases Madoka as she steps forward, and Homura glances towards Kunzite. She doesn't have much to add, but she is waiting for the answer.
No putting wardrobes inside Homura's shield, indeed. Dimensional portals moving through dimensional portals is always a bad idea.
Kunzite does not comment on this, whether from failure to bother to read the classics of European literature or simply because he's eyeing Mamoru's expression again. Temptation to imitate Zoisite in misusing his powers might be strong, but it's resisted for the time being. Because Madoka. He turns to nod to her again, then to Homura. "I'm inclined to suggest midrange of what you're willing to offer, unless Endymion has a compelling reason to argue otherwise. Most likely to be strong enough to be useful, and to make any spillover noticeable, while not being so strong as to make that spillover irresistable or to endanger bystanders from my lack of familiarity."
Here's the point at which Mamoru steps back again, in order to fold himself into a chair by the telescope, in full view of the lowering sun. Relaxed, self-possessed, not at all provoking anyone or trolling anyone at all, and -- for the moment -- listening.
At 'endanger' his phone buzzes, though, and he doesn't entirely sit up in order to catch a pidgey. It's, after all, a pidgey. "No compelling reasons to argue. Not even facetious reasons," he says cheerfully.
Sudden unexpected hug! Madoka enjoys Homura's arms temporarily around her as coincidental as it might be. A curious look is made as Homura reaches into her shield, followed by a mildly confused one and a tilt of her head as the glasses are retrieved.
As Homura raises her finger and explains Madoka's hand goes over her mouth to quiet a long series of giggles. As soon as the explanation finishes but before the glasses are off Madoka turns her head and presses a big kiss onto Homura's cheek, gazing at her fondly and giggling even a little more afterwards.
But then it's back down to business and a thoughtful nod is given, "I thought so, but I wanted to make sure first." At the mention of lack of familiarity she looks a little embarrassed, "It's... well, a lot of it comes naturally to me when I use my magic. But you can have the arrows track a target, spread out evenly over an area, or even get close but miss on purpose. Um, each one individually." She looks away after a moment, feeling like she's bragging when that wasn't really the intent.
Then in a flash of pink her bow forms into her hands, straight like a staff sans magical bowstring, with the twigs at the top curled around the main body and the pink rose a bunch up, leafy nub. She gives it a quick spin, holding it with both hands behind her back. "What do you need me to do? Can you catch it with magic, or do I need to, um, aim at you?" She doesn't really like the idea of that, but it might come with the territory. "Oh. If it's that second one you might need to fly; what I had in mind goes up before it comes down."
The sudden kisses causes Homura to blush, flashing a smile at Madoka as she continues putting her glasses up. Well, she always did find that look cute.
"Midrange?" repeats Homura. The logic is sound enough. "Sounds good." She reaches forward and a large black bow appears in her hand. It's not wooden like Madoka's, looking rather more like metal or stone. The question of 'how would a metal bow even be able to bend?' is probably best unasked. It's magic. I don't have to explain it.
"Mine's based upon hers, so it should work about the same." Homura still isn't sure how she was able to produce a bow like that, but she remembers it was an emotionally intense moment when she first did it. Something about love and how that relates to emotion and magic.
She lifts her hand, as if to draw, but then she waits. If she remembers, Kunzite absorbs incoming attacks. She leaves that question for Kunzite to answer, in case there are details she isn't aware of or has forgotten. Homura could fire now, but she'd rather wait for Madoka to finish first. No need to rush things and get someone hurt.
Homura blinks at the mention of Madoka's attacks going up and then coming back down. That's at the midrange? It might not be what Homura's thinking of... but it makes her wonder.
That comment from Mamoru garners him a narrow look from Kunzite. "No facetious reasons? Are you feeling all right?"
He doesn't seem to feel a particular need to wait for an answer, turning his attention after a moment to Madoka and Homura again. "Seems reasonable to catch it on the way up, then." He paces over to the girls, and glances around the roof, considering the open space. After a moment, he extends both hands and lifts them on either side of a single smooth arc.
Darkness follows the gesture: a hollow hemisphere of shadow swarming up around them, casting the roof where the three of them stand into a sudden twilight dim. The temperature doesn't drop much, this time; hollow is the important word. Drinking down the light and heat that strike the shell, but not the warmth within.
"Whenever you're ready."
A blush as well as a smile? Epic Success! But now isn't the time to dwell on how cute Homura is; there's plenty of time for that later.
A quick peek between Kunzite and Mamoru is given by Madoka but she doesn't dwell on the comment that provoked it for very long. If Kunzite isn't actually worried she doesn't imagine she should be.
When the area is suddenly dim and shadowy she casts her eyes around, curiously experiencing the way the world is with the hemisphere that was just created. Curiosity shows on her face rather than worry; she trusts Kunzite as she would trust Mamoru with his powers. If she didn't she wouldn't be offering to add to his repertoire.
She is pleased that she doesn't actually have to aim her weapon at him, and when given the go ahead the twin twigs unwind and the pink rose blooms, an angled section elongating out of the base of the bow as it curves and forms a very thin pink magical bowstring. Pink magic begins to waft off the rose like a flame and she draws back the bowstring, a somewhat jagged bolt of dark pink energy sparking to life. A calming, focusing breath is taken in and exhaled as she slowly and carefully empowers the arrow, only to lean back and aim skyward before releasing the bowstring.
With the loud sound of accelerating magic the bowstring snaps forward and sends the arrow up into the shadows. If no intervention comes it would strike a suddenly formed symbol of circles and lines in the sky, sending down a rain of arrows on those below.
Hopefully that doesn't happen. Madoka would be rather embarrassed.
Homura silently listens to Kunzite's response and watches as he opens up a barrier of shadow. The darkness startles her, at first, since it has been a while since she's seen his powers in action... but a second thought makes her think that maybe it's not as bad as she looks. He's not particularly malicious or self-centered, after all, and Mamoru would be reacting if it were a problem.
Homura watches as Madoka releases the attack, and yes it was the one she was expecting. Well whatever. If Kunzite messes up or needs more time to catch that, there's a timestopper right here.
Homura actually waits for Madoka's attack to complete, and for all of that to be resolved, before she adds in her own attack. She aims her bow up at the hemisphere, pulling back on the unseen string to produce a brilliant purple arrow. She can't quite do Madoka's 'rain from the sky' attack, but she can produce a single powerful bolt, and maybe having some of Homura's personality could counteract any unwanted effects from Madoka's magic.
"Firing." She gives one token word as a last warning, before releasing the arrow. She guesses that should be enough.
Mamoru looks like he's watching his screen for a while, though he's actually watching Kunzite -- or at least, the dimmed shade of Kunzite through the shadow dome. It's not until Homura draws her bow and readies her attack that he sits up, attention more focused, more alert; it's not until she fires that he's watching Kunzite like a hawk. If he didn't have time to prepare for the second attack--
--sure, Homura's a timestopper, but all Mamoru can think of is his own three attacks, and how much more powerful those two girls together might be than that.
Kunzite watches Madoka, rather than the blackness above (no stars for that telescope, not that the 'scope is close enough to be affected). The glow of her power lights the area inside as if it really were a room. Her arrow leaps into the sky, seeming as brilliant as sunrise --
-- it does not strike that blackness, per se, but vanishes into it. A dim echo of something like those circles and lines flickers across the shell above them, geometrical, geodesic, flickering from Madoka's dark pink power to something a little warmer than it had been to something vanishing and gone, absorbed. Kunzite exhales sharply and lifts a hand to the side of his head for a moment, but Homura's single-word warning wins a nod from him.
The purple arrow is more concentrated, less complicated -- the darkness swallows it without a flicker, cut off as sharply as one of her timestops.
After a moment, Kunzite draws the shield back down, the hemisphere opening at its highest point and fading downward. Shadows flicker across the rooftop beneath their feet for a moment, visibly drawing back to him, but politely avoiding both Homura's and Madoka's shoes.
"Always good to have another reminder not to irritate either of you," Kunzite says. His voice is very carefully level.
Madoka's eyes follow the arrow up and away. Normally she wouldn't keep her eyes on the one going up, but just in case there's some issue she's ready to direct the resulting pink shower to harmless locations. Luckily no such thing is necessary and the Puella can watch with interest as the arrow fades away and is absorbed, curiously watching the echo of her power that briefly shows amongst the shadows.
The exhale from Kunzite draws her attention, though she does spare a smile for Homura as her purple arrow is charged and fired. Once the shadows begin to retreat she releases her bow, the weapon vanishing into glittery pink magic that fades quickly to nothing in the wind.
The show of humor, at least she assumes it's humor, reassures her a little, but Madoka still steps forward towards Kunzite, holding her hands together. "Are you alright? I'm sorry if that was more than you were expecting. I was trying to be careful and not overdo it." A curled finger lifts to her lips, Madoka suddenly worried she's messed up somehow.
Power is absorbed. The offered magic is stored. Homura takes a glance at Madoka's Soul Gem just to reassure herself, and then she looks at her own. Kunzite's statement earns a blink and then a smirk. Well, he can't be having too much trouble if he's making jokes and complementing them.
"It worked out okay. Besides, we did have failsafes just in case." Whether she's referring to her own powers, Madoka's control, Mamoru's healing, or something else; she doesn't elaborate.
Her own obsidian bow vanishes into motes of violet magic. Her hands drop to her side, and she keeps an eye on Kunzite to see... if there are any ill effects they'll have to worry about. She trusts his judgement on whether or not he's okay, so unless he looks like he's in pain she doesn't sweat it too much.
"Well, there's that. I hope you find it useful, however you decide to use it."
And Mamoru's on his feet, taking in the extremely level tone, but not visibly fretting over it. His phone's been put in power saver mode and vanished somewhere into his yukata, and he's smiling lopsidedly. "Psh," he says in Madoka's direction with a careless wave of his hand. "He's fine. If he weren't, you'd be able to tell because he'd be cursing without Nephrite having done something ill-thought-out. Or pretending not to fall over while actually falling over."
Yes, this is where Mamoru points at his eyes, then turns his hand around to point at Kunzite. I'm watching you.
Reassurances aside, he does meander over to put a hand lightly on Kunzite's arm, halfway to his shoulder. His face says, 'are you okay?' and his mouth says "Mako-chan hasn't been by, so I'm making dinner." He glances back at the girls and a quick grin. "So if you're staying, dinner's ready in about forty-five minutes. Should be able to catch the sunset before then."
.
There's a moment's pause, as if to take further inventory and confirm -- or maybe to finish rebooting, who knows -- before Kunzite gives Mamoru another of those narrow looks. "I am not falling over," he informs Mamoru in tones that might, possibly, gather some of the humidity out of the atmosphere as frost. He turns to assure Madoka, "I'm all right. Thank you for your concern. I'm finding it's ... more different than I expected, doing this outside of immediate combat." Adrenaline fuels more things than physical fight or flight. And it's always easier to work powers up to their height against a genuine threat ...
"I don't doubt that we will," he says to Homura, then. "With luck, not for a good while."
It may possibly be that he's thinking about a specific purpose that he'd like to delay for that 'good while.'
(That, or possibly he's hoping he won't ever have to find out Takashi Agera's reaction if he sees Kunzite using Madoka's power.)
Mamoru knows Kunzite better than Madoka does and so his word makes it easy for her to be reassured. That Mamoru is still showing the body language of quiet concern isn't lost on her, but those are concerns between two people who work and live closely together. Kunzite's own assurance is enough to ease her mind and put a pleasant smile back on her face. "Good; and you're welcome."
That it would be different outside of combat draws a nod from her and she looks upwards, "That's true... I wasn't feeling any need to hurry, or that some threat had to be dealt with right away." She was thinking about using her magic to protect her friends, however. "I hope so," she agrees with Homura, smiling again as Kunzite replies. "It would be nice for you all to get a chance to relax for a while, wouldn't it?"
At the mention of dinner and the promise of a sunset she gives a bright smile to Mamoru, "I think we can stay. It'd be fun to see the sunset from up here; I'm surprised people aren't up here more often." Then again it is the middle of summer with no cover above their heads. "Your rooftop is really nice, Mamoru-kun," a pretty, friendly smile follows, "so is your yukata! It makes me want to wear one."
A quick peek towards Homura indicates she might like seeing certain other people in one, too.
Homura's eye go from Mamoru to Kunzite, nodding after Mamoru says that Kunzite is alright. Well, if there was something wrong, Mamoru wouldn't withhold that from them. Still, those exchanged looks between the boys are noticed, and it isn't until Kunzite affirms that he's fine that Homura considers the matter closed.
She closes her eyes. "We often hope not to fight, and yet we prepare for the times when we must."
Dinner is mentioned, and Homura opens her eyes to glance at Madoka. Dinner at the ECFH isn't something she herself would turn down, but Madoka might want some alone time and 45 minutes may be too short.
Well, Madoka gives her answer, and Homura flips her hair and wears a shit-eating grin. "How could we turn down dinner cooked by a prince?"
Yes, with the more serious matters handled, she's going right back to teasing Mamoru.
The compliment on Mamoru's yukata doesn't warrant any reaction, but the thought of Madoka in one does. When Homura notices Madoka looking at her, she-- turns away before Mamoru and Kunzite can see her blushing. The benefits of long hair! (Madoka can still see it, though.)
She clears her throat. "I can hardly wait to watch the sunset from up here. I bet it's nice." Trying to change the subject?
It's possible Mamoru's eyes shouldn't be sparkling at Kunzite's frostiness, but then-- wouldn't be Mamoru, would that.
His hand falls from Kunzite's arm and he laughs. "Thanks! We didn't get to wander around on Tanabata, but Usa got me this anyway-- and it's so comfortable I'm thinking I should get a few more. I feel like I'm getting away with something in a completely acceptable way-- which I kind of am-- you should ask her where she got it," he says cheerfully. "And thanks about the rooftop too. I used to come up here-- it's a lot nicer now."
Mamoru mimes taking a crown off his head, wadding it up, and throwing it at Homura. "You better be glad I cooked for myself for years. Someone who was raised in a castle or whatever wouldn't know how to cook," he says flippantly, then yanks on Kunzite's sleeve. "Mako's been training you, so you get to help." And the girls get the roof. "Let you two know when it's ready~!"
"I'm not entirely sure what that verb you used means," Kunzite tells Madoka, perfectly straight-faced. In perfect agreement with Homura's statement on hope and preparation. A moment later, he's shifting from uniform to jeans and rolled-up sleeves again; one of those people who picks one outfit and buys identical copies, rather than having to actually put thought into the matter. ... also, one of those people whose reaction to having his sleeve yanked is to take the yankable bit away. "By 'help,'" he says to Mamoru, "I presume you mean 'do the actual work while you retake the gym for the fifth time today.'"
Snark never means he doesn't follow.
Madoka isn't feeling bothered or anxious by the social company and likewise didn't wear herself out magically with the single attack so there's no reason for her to need to be alone just yet. Now, if that alone time isn't entirely alone then it's already been decided that not even an entire eternity is enough for that. 45 minutes might be a good start, though?
Madoka holds back a giggle as Homura teases Mamoru, enjoying watching the two of them interact. Almost to herself she says, "It's no wonder Mamoru-kun's apartment is so popular when people have so much fun together here."
"Oh! I'll definitely ask her if she knows a good store for them," she replies eagerly, seemingly having meant the compliment in full. When the invisible crown is wadded up and tossed and the snark deployed a bright smile suddenly shows on Madoka's face, "Not even a White Castle?" She peeks between the others with that big smile, only to realize she's probably the only one who gets it, blushing lightly and letting out an embarrassed, "Eheheh..." while closing her eyes.
Homura catches Madoka looking just as Madoka catches Homura looking. The pink-haired girl gives a small, inviting smile and half twists in a little pose for half a second. Whether or not Homura catches it before she starts blushing the smile widens to show her sparkly white teeth.
Homublushes have a powerful affect on her, and so Madoka walks closer to her girlfriend with eyes locked onto the color on her cheeks. Just as the serious matters being dealt with leaves Homura free to tease Mamoru, it leaves Madoka to get mushy on Homura. Unless warned off Madoka will slip both arms around her, palms resting on her lower back, and twist a little from side to side, giggling and leaning in to poke her nose against Homura's blushing cheek before sneaking a kiss onto it as well. "I can't think of anyone better to watch a sunset with," she whispers quietly.
Banter between the boys leads to them both starting to head downstairs, and Madoka calls, "Okay, thank you!" after them. Part of her feels like following after and helping but... Her eyes peek up to Homura's and sparkle.
Now they don't have to get a room; they were just given one!
"In all fairness," admits Homura to Mamoru, "if the roles were reversed I'd probably only have junk food to offer." Mamoru would know that, too. Homura has learned some cooking skills since then but it hasn't ever been a focus.
Madoka's response gets a smile from Homura. "What can I say? It's good company. May as well enjoy it." 'Good company' indeed, she says about the boy she considers like a brother.
She blinks at the mention of a White Castle. "You mean like Himeji?" She clearly doesn't get it, despite having just mentioned junk food herself.
Then Madoka is wrapping arms around her and suddenly nothing else matters.
Nice
As the two boys leave, Homura turns her still-blushing face towards them. "See you in a bit!" she calls out to the two of them, leaning against Madoka and watching them go. Once they're alone, she smiles at Madoka.
"Me either. I wouldn't mind watching it from the reflection in your eyes~." Homura and Madoka have been given a room, a very romantic one at that, and she intends to make full use of it. For someone who can actually stop time, she certainly doesn't waste it.
Homura's long hair hides from view the gentle kiss she gives to Madoka, but anyone looking can guess that's what they're doing anyways.