Outside of Fairy Drop Fashionables a sparkling new black Corvette pulls up to the curb and parks. The passenger side door opens and out from it steps Madoka Kaname, all dressed up in her fancy pink suit. It may not be anything like what she'll be looking inside, but it is snappy and fashionable; perhaps the most fashionable thing she owns that she's willing to wear on a regular basis. She waits for the driver to get out before walking with her into the store. There are several cute things, but today cute isn't what she's on the lookout for. No, instead she heads directly for the custom made section and then direct to the most formal selections available, hoping to find a gorgeous ball gown to attend the upcoming charity ball in. She is, after all, the one throwing it!
"I remember when I used to hate them," she says with a light giggle as she walks past a cute layered skirt, peeling her eyes away before continuing, "I felt so awkward, and it never seemed like I fit in with so many rich and talented people. Mama and Papa always made sure I went, though. And now I love them so much I'm making them myself!" With a little wink she slips her arm into Homura's and leans against the other girl, "I think part of that is getting to go with someone so gorgeous!" A bit quieter she adds, "That and you always make me feel beautiful when we're dancing together."
Homura steps out of the driver's seat of her sleek black corvette in her slick black suit, while her silky black hair waves and curls in the wind. It's easy for her to feel beautiful when someone she loves admires her so. While she'd sometime overhear whispers from students admiring how gorgeous she is, it's something else entirely when the one you love sees you that way. Especially if they tell you, often, both with their words and the way they look at you.
She's quick to join Madoka's side, walking with her towards the store. There is a spring in her step, because why wouldn't there be?
Madoka starts up a conversation, and Homura's bright smile turns into more of a wry one. She leans against Madoka, sighing happily.
"Yeah me too. I never had anyone to dance with. I learned how to dance because I thought it would help my coordination, but I never really had anyone I wanted to ask until you came along." She pauses for a moment. "Well... Mamoru I'd dance with, but that's different. I was going to ask you first until..."
She cuts herself off. Whatever she's going to say she decides it's better not to say it.
"Well, we dance plenty now. I have to admit, getting to share a dance with you again is pretty exciting." Her free hand rises to tug at the sleeve of Madoka's suit. "You've always been beautiful to me, inside and out. It's an honor to get to dance with you, especially if I get to do it all the time."
She leans against Madoka, closing her eyes. "Besides, you do fit in with rich and talented people. You're more talented than most, really."
It would be a lie to say that Madoka didn't steal a glance at Homura as she got out of her car, especially when the wind catches her hair just right and waves it back behind her. It's something the pink-haired girl has subconsciously gotten used to, feeling a gust of wind and knowing now would be a good time to catch a glimpse of long, silky black locks waving in it's rowdy embrace.
Homura leans against her and Madoka mostly supports her girlfriend, but also leans back into her a little. "It was nice when we finally did get to dance, though," she pipes up, knowing the end of that story all too well herself.
She makes a thoughtful face, and then peeks over to Homura almost as if worried, "Actually... I don't know if I'd change anything about how it all happened." Her cheeks flush a little and she shakes her head, "I wouldn't wish any aggravation on you... but I really do like the way things turned out for us. When you confessed to me I was ready for it, and it was wonderful, and being with you since then has been like a beautiful dream." She can't even think about it without a smile creeping back onto her lips.
A quick nod is given, "I like dancing with you very much, too. And it'll be fun showing off in front of everyone." Her tone tells the tale of how she thinks she's being naughty, wanting to show off. But not too naughty. She turns her head then and smiles warmly up to Homura, "Thank you. Hearing such sweet things from you means the world to me." She leans in and sneaks a kiss onto Homura's cheek, "Your everything is beautiful to me too, Homura-chan!" She whispers happily, hugging onto her girlfriends arm a bit tighter.
"I finally believe that now," she agrees in a quieter but happy tone. She lifts her hand to her mouth and covers it while giggling to keep it from being too loud, "We might be the biggest power couple there!"
"There are things I'd rather not have wasted my time on," says Homura, plainly. "I should've spent less time dealing with WPS and more time looking after other Puella Magi. Even if I think I'm being blamed too much, I did make mistakes back then."
If Madoka doesn't regret dating Takashi, then... whatever. She said a long time ago that she wasn't going to try and dictate who Madoka could and could not dance with. That was a line of control she was never willing to cross. In the same way that Madoka cares too much about to world to not sacrifice herself, Homura cares too much about Madoka to be cruel to her, even in cases where it would save her life.
"I wasn't really thinking about that, I just noticed that mentioning his name made you upset yesterday. I didn't know why, so I didn't want to remind you. I guess it was a bit late for that."
She glances at Madoka, wondering maybe a bit too late if she had hurt or offended her. Perhaps apologetically, she adds, "I'll admit that nothing bad happened, and no one could fault you for anything. Not every relationship is going to be a fairytale romance, and to expect otherwise is unrealistic to the point of being self-destructive. I guess if I'm upset at anything, it's at myself for being a coward and letting you feel lonely, because I wasn't dealing with my real feelings and was afraid of getting close to you."
She flips her hair. "That said, if not for Agera-san I wouldn't have anyone else to show up, and if he hadn't been so wishy washy I wouldn't be trying so hard to spoil you." That might annoy Madoka a little, but the trollish sticking out of the tongue and the teasing grin on Homura's face implies that she is just trying to make light of it.
Madoka's being naughty about wanting to show Homura off, and well... since when has Homura not indulged in such feelings herself? Maybe not exactly the same way, but Homura's done her fair share of not-entirely-nice things in the name of romance. At least a couple of which she's just admitted to.
"Well we've had plenty of practice, haven't we?" Dancing, she means. "It will be fun. Not only might we be the biggest power couple, but the best dancers, too!"
Madoka peeks over at Homura when she notes not wanting to have wasted so much time with WPS. She gives a small nod, acknowledging the point. It would probably be a mistake to think things couldn't have turned out even better, but it's also hard not to be happy with where she is, personally.
Takashi's name? That's true, she realizes, she did get a little upset yesterday. "That wasn't so much about him as it was Kunzite-kun and Mamoru-kun. I'm still a little upset that they probably knew that Takashi-kun and Riventon were the same person and didn't tell me. I dated him, and he attacked me. ...that's the sort of thing I think it would be important to say. I don't understand why they wouldn't tell me." A small frown shows on her face, and she shakes her head, "It wasn't a good time to talk about that, though. They were all exhausted and had just dealt with something much bigger. If they hadn't protected us from that asteroid and it's plants it wouldn't matter what we did or didn't know."
She turns her mind from that and over to Homura, "You weren't a coward, Homura-chan. You were careful, and I think you were right to be. I don't know how I would have reacted if you told me you loved me that way before I got to know you and understand you." It'd be very nice to think that the undeniable chemistry between them would have won out, but Madoka was practically afraid of her own shadow for a while there.
She giggles when Homura flips her hair, and leans her head on her girlfriends shoulder for a moment, "If I hadn't dated him I wouldn't have known how much I needed someone who wants to be close to me, either. Things were fun but the weren't perfect at all. It helps me to appreciate just how much you do spoil me, and how much I love the attention you give me."
What she says next used to be an emotional wound, a sore point, especially since it was the root of that breakup, but now she can look back and think on it without feeling any hurt; she's far too romantically satisfied for that. "I know exactly what it's like to not be enough for someone, to not have something they really need." She looks over into Homura's eyes and smiles brightly, "With you that's never been a problem. Sometimes you talk like I'm the only thing you need, and that makes me feel warm and tingly and happy inside." She actually giggles as she says, "For other people it might be strange, needing one person so much, but it makes perfect sense for us. We did sell our souls in a way, so that we could be together." She shifts around so that rather than simply hooking arms she takes Homura's hand, interlace their fingers, and give it a squeeze. She's still smiling brightly. "I love you, and I need you, and I know you feel exactly the same!"
With a giggle she nods her head, speeding up a little and tugging Homura onward to the formal section where all the fanciest dresses are, "Yes! And with any luck we'll be the most beautiful, too!"
Homura frowns thoughtfully, and then considers that. "It's true, they should have, but I don't really know when they found out. Maybe they found out just a little before we did. Maybe they were still dealing with the possibility of him doing something crazy about Ami-chan breaking up with him? It's not like Mamo-kun hasn't been half-dead for a while."
After a pause, she adds, "I was also mad when Mamo-kun wouldn't tell me that Kyouko-san had kidnapped you, but I guess he's just unreliable about that kind of thing. Either that or he just doesn't trust me." She shrugs, shaking her head. "Besides... we've kept secrets from him, too. It's not as if we ever told him that I became a Witch... but maybe that's not the same thing."
Madoka says she wasn't a coward, and Homura feels maybe a little sheepish. "I should've known you'd say something like that. Well, if I hurt you in any way by being cold to you, I hope I've made up for it."
Then Madoka says some sweet things, and Homura gets even more sheepish. "Well, at least now you have a better idea of what you want, right? There's advantage in that."
To not be enough for someone... Homura considers that. "Well, yeah. I think it is like that. You have what I need, and no one else has that. I'm not sure if my needs can really be summed up in simple words, but it's clear that whatever my demand is, you supply it. I think it's like... a jigsaw puzzle. Sometimes two pieces don't fit at all, sometimes they seem like they might fit but when you try to put them together you can see that they don't, and sometimes two pieces just merge together perfectly and that's how you know they've found their Other."
As Madoka takes her hand, Homura squeezes, cupping her other hand around Madoka's. "I do love you, and I do need you. I don't doubt that you feel the same way."
At the mention of being the most beautiful, Homura giggles. "Oh of course! I want everyone to see you as beautiful as I do."
Madoka sighs, "I suppose I don't even know for sure that they knew. Maybe I'm the one being foolish for not telling them, just to make sure." She looks sheepish herself when the kidnapping was mentioned, because it's not like she told Homura about that either. Of course she also didn't know exactly how much and why Homura worried about her, back then. "That's true," she comments about Homura having become and returned from being a Witch, "but I think it's the difference between if you being a Witch, and if you had hurt Usagi-chan while you were one. It isn't that Takashi-kun being Riventon is a big deal, though it is, it's that it was something very personal to me that they should have known would affect me."
Madoka's tone isn't hurt or bitter; Homura made some good points to mitigate it, one especially. She looks upwards, "Though... I can't really blame them at all for not recognizing that. They were going through so much, and one of their own friends was involved right then, too. Now I feel a little bad for being upset."
Madoka gives a shake of her head, "I don't think you hurt me by being cold to me. You worried me a little at first, but once we went to the concert and decided to be friends I think all of that was gone." Ah, the concert. She giggles softly, "I guess I shouldn't ever be too mad at Mamoru-kun, because he was the one who gave you the tickets, and we've had so much fun together ever since."
A bright smile and a quick nodding of her head, "I do! And there's a lot of advantage to it, because I know how amazing and special it is to find someone like you who is perfect for me~."
Homura says Madoka has what she needs, and the pink-haired girl is getting all giggly and blushy, right up until romantic compatibility is compared to jigsaw puzzles. In an uncharacteristic reaction Madoka flinches and shakes her head vigorously, "No it isn't! It isn't like a puzzle at all!" Her nose wrinkles, "Maybe it's true that we fit together really well and there's probably no one else who could ever give us what we need," wait that's actually helping Homura's analogy, "b-but puzzles were one piece from the start that got cut into bits and... and it's just not the same at all!" One might get the impression that she doesn't like puzzles very much.
She isn't disgruntled at Homura for bringing it up so much as puzzles themselves, though, so she doesn't try to pull away or stop holding hands. Actually if anything she sinks closer to Homura, leaning against her. "I want to be beautiful for everyone to see, but mostly I want to be as beautiful as I can be for you."
Homura considers that response, then nods. "Yeah... that does make it different. I think Mamo-kun just doesn't really consider people's feelings that much. I mean, he tries to be good to people, and he is, but when it comes to really understanding someone's feelings, I don't think he actually gets it. I don't think it'd even occur to him that you'd be hurt by that. Which is odd, because he can know how people feel with just a touch, but also he... hasn't had many friends up until about a year ago. Maybe he just doesn't really know how to deal with people, or how others think."
After a pause, Homura adds, "Also... if I'm being perfectly honest, if you hadn't talked me down, there's a non-zero chance I would've done something mean to Takashi-san in retaliation, and Mamoru-kun may have been trying to prevent that. I still think that was a bad way to go about it, since he still should have told you, and he should've trusted me, but he does tend to think in those terms."
Homura can see how she worried Madoka back then. Especially now that she has a good idea of how she thinks. "That concert really was a pivotal moment, wasn't it? I think it was the first time in many timeloops where the two of us could just relax with each other. Sure I had to preempt a youma to ensure that there wouldn't be any interruptions, but that's a small price to pay to spend time with you."
Homura blushes slightly as Madoka says that she's perfect for her. "I don't have any previous dating experience to compare you to, but I do enjoy what we have, and we are perfect for each other."
Then Homura blinks as Madoka talks about jigsaw puzzles, as if that were a bad analogy. A less younger and less confident Homura might've taken that harder, but as she is now she just thinks that maybe she hit a nerve. "Well... maybe that's not the best way to put it." She tries to think of a better way, but instead she says, "Not every analogy can be perfect." in the same way that one might say 'not every joke can be a hit'.
Madoka says she wants to be as beautiful as she can be for Homura, and the first thing that comes to mind is Madokami. The second thing that comes to mind is trying to find the kind of dress that might rival that. She blushes. "I guess I feel the same way. That's why I dress up and keep my hair nice. For anyone else I wouldn't care how they saw me, but I like being admired by you."
"That's true. I've known Sayaka-chan and Hitomi-chan since I was little, but he didn't have much of anyone, did he?" Not even his parents. Which means... he's actually somewhat similar to Takashi in that regard. That realization knocks her for a mental loop, "I suppose he hasn't really been able to ask his parents for advice in dealing with people either, has he? Sometimes I forget how much I rely on Mama and Papa to give me good advice, but they're always there for me when I need them."
All of that doesn't negate Homura's next points though, that he should have told Madoka and trusted Homura. "That is true, but maybe he was too sick to realize it at the time. I don't know Kunzite-kun well enough to know if he'd realize it was important for us to know, or if he even knows I used to date Takashi-kun." It's not like he wasn't a General of the Dark Kingdom at the time.
"It's always been a happy memory of mine. Both talking with you and getting to know you a little better, and the concert itself." A blink and a slight strartle, "Preempt a youma? I had no idea!" The shock wears off and she giggles, leaning against Homura, "But of course you'd protect me from something like that. You even made sure I had nothing to be worried about, my thoughtful Homura-chan."
After the angst wears off Madoka feels bad. She gives a small shake of her head, "No... it was good. I just... I don't like puzzles very much. It's not that I don't think it was the right thing, but it was the way I did a puzzle that made Takashi-kun realize we weren't right for each other." Her mouth shrinks into a petulant off-center line and she says childishly, "He broke up with me over a puzzle." Which isn't completely true, but it's easier to put the blame on the puzzle itself than the person. At least it is for Madoka.
Luckily any bad mood she might have is easily vanquished as Homura says the reason she keeps herself looking so nice. "Well I hope I'm not the only reason. You're so beautiful it'd be a real shame not to keep yourself looking your best. You look so stylish and dashing in your suits," the pink-haired girl reaches over and gives a little tug to the collar of Homura's jacket, "and so gorgeous in dresses." Madoka's eyes sparkle and she stops for a moment, only to step in front of Homura, "You wouldn't hide your beauty from the world if it wasn't for me, would you? The world itself is a more beautiful place because you're in it." That's when she lifts up on her toes and gives Homura a gentle, lingering kiss on the lips.
...why did they come here again? She may have temporarily forgotten.
"Kunzite probably doesn't have much of a clue, honestly," says Homura. "While you were dating Takashi-san, Kunzite-san was working for Beryl and getting his mind wiped every few weeks or so." Homura might be exaggerating the frequency a bit, but he was getting mind wiped a lot. "I don't even think he knew that I cared about you. It's not like I'd share details like that with an agent of the Dark Kingdom, even if he did seem like a good guy sometimes."
She shrugs. "Also, I get the feeling that Agera-san just stopped caring about who knew, and revealed himself to us all at roughly the same time. I really doubt that Mizuno-san would have dated him, knowing who he was."
Oh, right. Homura hadn't told Madoka about that, and it wasn't really a part of Homura's grief so she wouldn't have gotten it from there, either. "I'm so used to you knowing things, but yeah. I noticed that youma tended to attack public functions and events where emotional energy was high. The attack was predictable and the attacker easily dispatched. Of course I wouldn't want any monster threatening my darling Madoka-chan."
They broke up... over a puzzle? Over the way Madoka did a puzzle? Oh geeze. Homura tries to wrap her mind around that. It's difficult to see how anyone could not be enamoured with Madoka completely. She tries picturing it as someone other than Madoka, but it still doesn't make sense because she doesn't really understand how Takashi feels. "Well... we don't have to do puzzles if you don't want. Personally I think we really enjoy the time we spend together."
Homura blinks at Madoka's next words. "Well... maybe not hide. I probably wouldn't try as hard. If you remember the picture of me with the braided twintails, that's probably what I'd look like without you." She assumes, since that's what she looked like when she and Madoka met."
Madoka says some very sweet things that make Homura all fluttery, and then she moves in for a sweet kiss, and Homura is lost in a sweet bliss.
Then her eyes open and she pulls away, giggling. "Okay, we better pick out some dresses before we get too carried away. It might be more fun if we get cuddly while we're all dressed up."
She considers. Madoka did just say that Homura looks good in both suits and dresses. "What do you think? Should I wear a suit or a dress?"
Madoka would be more upset about more awful things that Beryl did, except for the fact she was completely and utterly destroyed. She doesn't have near the vengeful streak that Homura does, but she's still quite happy that someone who reveled in evil and sold her soul purely to hurt others was wiped from the face of the Earth. Someone like that is about as antithetical to Madoka as it's possible to get; the only reason she didn't become Madoka's example of purest evil is simply because Madoka wasn't completely aware of all the awful things she did.
"Then I really can't blame him, either. I don't even want someone to blame, I guess I'm just annoyed by it." Her eyes turn away from Homura for a moment, "I'm mostly upset because of the kind of situation I found out in, and because I was rattled and made a snap decision I hurt you. Even if we worked it out, I'd rather not hurt you in the first place, even a little."
The mention of youma focusing on public events and gatherings cause her eyes to widen a little, only to return to normal as she lifts a finger to her lips, "They don't seem to be doing that so much lately though, do they?" Most of the events she's been too recently have had so many magical people around it'd be suicide for a Youma to attack. She giggles a little at Homura's final words on the subject, "That's why I feel safe and sound whenever I'm with you, Homura-chan!"
Madoka see's Homura's confusion about the puzzle and sighs slightly. Honestly, Homura is her best friend as well as her girlfriend and it's a little ridiculous she hasn't told her the specifics on that breakup yet. "It was more... He's an intellectual and I'm not. He put the puzzle together really quick like it was problem solving instead of a game, and I was messing around. It was also kind of hard with lots of the same colors, so I had a hard time with it. I think I understand it; he couldn't really share his science stuff with me in a way I'd understand. He wanted to be able to do smart people things with me. And I wanted to be more snuggly and just have fun, and doing the puzzle together he realized how different we were and that we wanted different things."
Madoka gives a shake of her head, "That's why I've said he let me down easy. As soon as he realized it wouldn't work between us, he told me and didn't lead me on. It probably would have taken me longer to realize it, myself." A sigh, "But he still realized all that just because of a dumb overcomplicated puzzle."
She peeks over to Homura and offers an appologetic smile, "I'm sorry if you didn't want to hear about all that. It's was one of the only things I haven't told you, when I try to tell you everything."
Madoka almost feels like putting her hands on her hips, "Yes, I remember! You looked adorable in that picture, Homura-chan! Maybe you weren't as breathtakingly beautiful, but you were always cute and good looking." She giggles, "I can even remember thinking that you were precious and innocent. Your braids and glasses made that more obvious."
When Homura pulls away Madoka is a good girl and doesn't pursue or complain. "You're right," she says in a happy, wistful tone, "We probably should find something to wear before the store closes." Because she's pretty sure she could cuddle and kiss Homura forever, even standing. Besides, she has a point about being snuggly dressed up all fancy!
She walks backwards, tugging on Homura's hand again to bring them into the displays of custom dresses, only to pause and tilt her head. "I took it for granted that we would both wear dresses, but you do look nice in suits." She looks Homura over, from top to bottom, and then up again, "...have I ever seen you in a proper tuxedo?" A slight blush shows on her cheeks, "Hehehe... you'd look very nice in one. White tie would look amazing on you too, with your skin tone and hair."
Something occurs to her and she giggles suddenly, only to catch herself abruptly, closing her eyes and coughing into her hand. "You could even wear a top hat," she notes in a Too Even tone.
Homura thinks back to when she found out about Riventon. She was hurt by some of the things Madoka said, sure, but... "It's okay. We did work it out, and I don't think it's fair to hold either of us accountable for what we said when neither one of us really had time to think things through. We were under a lot of pressure. I'd rather have a relationship where we can say what we think, even if we don't necessarily agree. If we didn't communicate, then no matter how we feel, we wouldn't have much of a relationship at all."
That's kindof a dismal statement to make when their complaint is that other people aren't communicating with them, and that does occur to Homura, but she decides not to dwell on it.
"I was upset back then, but honestly a lot of that upset was being suddenly placed under a lot of pressure in an already potentially deadly situation. Agera-san did that to me, not you. He was also the one who lied to you to begin with, and everything negative about that situation was caused in some way by him." Well, Homura certainly seems to have found someone to blame. "You were just the person I felt like I could complain to, and I'm sorry my first complaint was about you. You've always been forgiving, and I shouldn't expect you to be otherwise."
"Besides..." Homura reaches out to embrace Madoka, holding her close. "... you've given me so much. Thank you for caring so much about me. Most people don't even seem to care if they hurt me or not."
At the mention of youma not doing that anymore, Homura shakes her head. "No, they don't. Those were primarily Dark Kingdom plots, with a few exceptions." She giggles as Madoka says she feels safe around Homura. Good. She's glad that Madoka feels safe.
The puzzle is explained, and Homura sticks out her tongue. That was his reason? No wonder she didn't get it. "Yeah okay but it's not like you're dumb." She frowns for a moment, then turns to look at some clothes that are on a rack. After a moment her expression softens. "I guess it'd be pretty lonely for him. He makes top marks all the time, and he's always experimenting. If that's really important to him, I can see him wanting to be with someone who could share his passion. If he's that far ahead of his grade, I can see it being hard finding someone he can identify with."
Homura considers the rest of what Madoka says about it. Takashi didn't lead her on, and did let her down easy. Knowing that, it does change her perspective a little. "It's almost as if the person I hit with an ambulance isn't even the same person who broke up with you. Still, that sounds pretty rough, being broken up with suddenly over something like that. At least you found someone you could snuggle and have fun with, right?" She winks while saying that last sentence.
Homura shakes her head. "You don't have to be sorry. It doesn't bother me anymore. I was sore about it once, but... I think I didn't really understand what was going on. Besides, I'm your friend in addition to being your girlfriend, right? You can share things like that with me."
Homura smiles, thinking about back then. "I could probably stand to put them in braids again. I'm a bit less naive than I was back then, but I can't have completely lost my innocence if you're still making me blush."
Madoka lures her deeper into the store, egged on by Homura's own desires to focus. Homura really does think they'd cuddle forever and forget to buy something if left to their own devices. As Madoka starts considering Homura in a tuxedo, she tilts her head and then blushes again... from embarrassment. "I am not going as Tuxedo Kamen."
After a moment she reconsiders. What's the difference between Tuxedo Kamen's henshin and just a normal tuxedo? She thinks out loud. "At the very least I'm not going to wear that ridiculous mask."
She really has to wrap her mind around the rest of it. A top hat? Really? She has to ask herself if Madoka is trolling her.
"I supposed I could be convinced, depending on what's possible." Homura grins. "... but I want to get you the most beautiful dress I can. Something flowy, maybe? With wings? Maybe a light pink?"
"I think a really big part of the reason we get along so well and are so good for each other is exactly because we're so eager to talk with each other. I've always enjoyed talking with you, and I'm pretty sure you have too." Madoka gives Homura a soft smile, "It's okay if you complain about me. I'm forgiving of complaints, too! Especially if they're good ones I can learn from." Anything that can help Madoka be a better Madoka for Homura is a good thing, right?
Madoka is embraced, and she happily slips her arms around Homura and squeezes her close, "You're welcome. You've given me so much to be happy about, and so many happy memories as well. I know you care about me more than anything, and I care that much about you too."
The youma that were out to gather energy from large crowds mostly being from the Dark Kingdom does make sense to her since she gets to see it from a future perspective. They were so often out to gather energy, and crowds did seem to make great places to do that in.
Madoka shakes her head, "No, I'm not dumb. But I'm not an intellectual either. And I think to be happy he needs someone who is." She doesn't know Ami or Sailor Mercury enough to make the obvious connection there and see why it might have affected him so strongly to be broken up with by her.
Homura comments that Riventon and Takashi seriously seemed like completely different people, especially with the way he treated Madoka while they were dating. The pink-haired girl nods, "I know! That's why it's so shocking! Even knowing he was born with dark energy, I never thought he could be that kind of villain. Of course I never would have dated him if I had known, but he was never awful to me in any way once we were close." She makes a face and shakes her head, "Looking back, it's clear that before he knew me he cared mostly about the potential I had inside me, but once he got to know me that wasn't as important to him. Even when he had the chance to choose experimenting on me over being close to me, he chose the latter."
Her head shakes, "That's probably something we should talk about later, though. For now we have outfits to look for." She smiles to Homura, "You are. My very best friend! I'm glad I can talk to you about things like this." A giggle then at the comment of braiding her hairs, "I did braid them for you once, and you did look very cute." She slides close to Homura again for a moment, "I know there's still some innocence in you." She whispers, "You show it to me all the time when we're cutesy wutesy cuddly wuddly close!" Homura is given a wiggly hug as Madoka speaks, but she pulls away because the danger of letting that spiral out of control is far too great!
Madoka shakes her head, "No, not the mask!" Okay, the hat part actually was mostly trolling, but the tuxedo idea itself was not! "I think you'd look very dashing if you wore a tuxedo, but I understand if you'd rather wear a dress, Homura-chan. A suit alone probably isn't fancy enough for this dance though, I told everyone to dress up to the highest formal standard." Pause, "That's the best way to get the most donations, I think, and that's really important this time."
Madoka then gets the chance to blush in embarrassment herself, "W-wings?! Wouldn't that be a bit ostentatious? I know you think I look good in them," another blush of a different kind, "but I'd really be putting myself forward as something special and fancy if my dress had wings!"
Homura smiles softly at Madoka. "Thanks for listening to me. It's not as if I've never upset you either, but I do try to be nicer since that's so important to you. You really do matter to me, more than anything."
Madoka's not an intellectual. Well, Homura would have to admit that. She most certainly doesn't pursue science or anything like that. "Yeah, I mean. I get that. He has his goals... whatever they are, and he probably wants a partner who shares that kind of interest." She closes her eyes. "He seriously thinks he's saving the world with what he's doing, or at least trying to. Maybe that's why he keeps going after more heroic girls."
So, Takashi chose to care about Madoka the person over the potential that she represented. That's... interesting. That's not the kind of thing that she would have expected from Riventon. Maybe Homura doesn't really understand him at all. It's been a while since she's met someone she hasn't seen in 99 previous timeloops.
"Yeah. Later," agrees Homura, only to smile as she's called Madoka's very best friend, and then breaks into giggles when Madoka talks about being 'cuddly wuddly close'. "You did! I actually wore it like that for a while."
Then Homura's phone vibrates, and she starts checking the texts. She raises an eyebrow, exchanges a few texts, and then speaks up. "It's... probably way too late in the preparations to change this, but apparently Mercury is requesting that the ball be a masquerade? She's going with a boy that she doesn't want to be associated with." Homura frowns and looks up. "... that's pretty harsh when I say it out loud, actually. I told her that it wouldn't matter if she wore a mask, but I wanted to know how you felt about that. I can tell her it's too late to make a change like that, if you'd prefer."
Homura considers. "I wouldn't mind a tuxedo, generally. I'd be a new look for me, but I can live with that." She'd wear it, but she also somewhat anticipates getting teased for it. Whatever. Mamoru will just have to deal. "I mean. That is the dress code, and with as much bank as I have I really have no excuse not to dress up at my girlfriend's party."
Homura's lips curl at Madoka's reaction to the mention of wings. "To be fair, those are probably more for fashion shows than classy events. Maybe a sash instead?"
A gentle nod of her head is given and Madoka smiles back to Homura, "I appreciate it when you try to be nicer. You show me how much I matter to you all the time, when you do things like that."
Madoka could go on for a while longer about Takashi and his goals, both in general and with what they might be as Riventon, but that would be a very deep conversation best had in private. It really isn't the best time, so she intentionally chooses not to perpetuate the topic.
Madoka giggles and replies, "I remember," when Homura responds about the hair braiding, only to look curiously towards Homura as she checks her phone. Listening to the question she blinks, "By now a lot of people have probably already picked out their outfits. Masquerades are a lot more flamboyant than a white tie formal." She lifts a finger to her lips for a moment before shaking her head, "It really wouldn't be possible. Especially not if we want our generous donors to get the recognition they deserve. If it wasn't for charity I might consider it, but the Hospital really needs to be repaired as quickly as possible."
She then blinks in mild confusion at the reasoning behind asking for the change, "A boy she doesn't want to be associated with?" Who would that even be? One name pops into her mind, and she winces mildly. "...I wonder if it's Takashi-kun. With all that's happened, I can see her not wanting to be seen in public with him, even if they're still friends." Wanting to be friends even after breaking up is something Madoka understands perfectly! "Um... maybe there's some magic she could use to disguise herself, or the boy? If she does wear a mask I think she'd stick out almost as much as I would if I wore a dress with wings."
Speaking of wings, Madoka gives a quick nod, "A sash could work! Especially if it was a very light and gauzy one." She takes a step towards a few dresses on display, shifting into a twirling dance step before coming to a stop, clearly getting into the mood for the ball already.
On the topic of tuxedoes she nods, "It would be a new look. I guess maybe I shouldn't have made it so fancy, because I do love your suits." She tilts her head back and forth, visibly indecisive. "Sorry, I think I'm not being the best help. You're so attractive in both it's hard to make up my mind!"
Homura nods as Madoka considers her response. "I thought as much. It'd be a sudden change, and yeah if people wanted to donate anonymously there are other channels for that. A dance like this is political like that."
Could the boy be Takashi? Homura shrugs nonchalantly. "That was my first guess. It might not be, but who knows? It'd be a bit silly to try to hide that when just about anyone could guess it, but I'm sure she has her reasons. Whatever they are. Maybe she just doesn't want to call attention to the two of them."
Homura texts a few more times before putting up her phone. Mercury also mentioned a potential project with Virtue, but that can wait until later. She'll tell Madoka about that when there's something detailed to tell her.
Homura smiles as Madoka twirls around, getting into a mood for the dance. Her head tilts slightly as she admires her. A decade of misery has taught her to appreciate the times of happiness that they can share, and this is one of them. "I think you'd look lovely in something like that. Maybe with some gloves? I could buy you some earrings if you'd like, or maybe a tiara? It is a formal dance."
On the subject of tuxedos, as opposed to dresses, Homura thinks about it. "Well, how about this. We can get something for you, and then we can look at tuxedos and dresses for me. We'll decide whether a tuxedo or a dress looks better and whatever it is, we'll go with that. I do think I'll probably wear something in black either way. Either that, or a violet dress. I wonder how I'd look with a train."
"A lot more people donate when everyone can see them doing it, and even more will when they'd seem rude if they didn't." Is that a cynical statement from the optimistic Madoka? Perhaps, but it's more of an observation on promoting positive human behavior in her own mind! If the way to help someone be a better person is to shine a spotlight on them, why not? Especially when it means helping causes that truly need it.
Would it be silly for Mercury to hide showing up with Takashi? That's a hard question for Madoka to answer. Normally she'd agree, however, "They seemed pretty upset at him at Mamoru-kun's apartment. If I was her I'd be really worried about upsetting my friends. But you're right, it could just as easily be someone else."
"I like wearing gloves! But would short ones or long ones go best with a dress like that? I think the sleeves would want to be on the shorter side, if I had gloves." Madoka's eyes sparkle as Homura mentions earrings or a tiara, only to suddenly take on a worried look. "N-no, definitely not. But you could buy me the dress and help me pick out earrings!" A very important difference, right? Buying your girlfriend a dress is for a specific event is much different than lavishing expensive jewelry on her, right?
Madoka is Very Serious about not getting her parents upset with Homura!
Homura chooses to punt on the question of dress or tuxedo, and Madoka ends up agreeing. "That's a good idea. Once we know what I'm wearing we can have a better idea of what you could wear that would make us look the best together. I think that's the second most important. Right after looking beautiful for you, I want to look beautiful with you!" She considers the idea of Homura in a dress with a train and blushes a little, "Very good, I think." Pause, "Though it might get in the way at a busy event."
Homura nods. Maybe it is cynical, or maybe it's just practical. It's more important that the work gets done, right? Homura is certainly the kind of girl who would do something beneficial by any means necessary. "I think that would produce the best results. Besides, no one will be there who didn't choose to be. They'll know what they're getting into."
Of course, this probably means that Homura will have to donate too. On the other hand, that's somewhat implied by her company hosting the event. Technically her secretary, but still her company, and it's not like Homura isn't a sponsor. That makes it a bit more fair, if she has the same spotlight, right?
Homura considers Madoka's thoughts on Mercury, then she shrugs. "I suppose that's a good point. The other thing is that Mercury referred to him as a 'sweet boy', which... makes me wonder if she'd say that about Agera-san. I suppose the fact that we don't know for sure means that the mask would be doing it's job, right?"
Homura sees Madoka's eyes sparkle, and then her sudden reaction. Homura giggles. "It's just for a special event, and it doesn't have to be too gaudy. I certainly wouldn't want you wearing anything that might get you mugged." That's the first thing that comes to mind when Homura sees her girlfriend flustered. Then, she thinks, "Well, I suppose I wouldn't want your family to raise eyebrows at me, either. I agree on the gloves, however. You'd want shorter sleeves to show them off. You might look pretty cute in elbow length gloves. Though if you're not wearing sleeves, that puts more emphasis on your shoulders. What do you think? Poofy, or no?""
Would a train get in the way? "Probably, especially if we wanted to dance. I think I'd be far more graceful a dancer for you if I didn't have to worry about tripping on my dress." After all, they were just talking about dancing. She ought to keep that in mind. "I could also go with something layered, maybe. With a big bow in the back."
Homura agrees with her about producing the intended results! As such Madoka is convinced of the correct approach. Though a masquerade would be a lot of fun sometime and it's something she'll have to consider. That might not have been why Mercury wanted this ball to be one, but it still serves as inspiration.
It's a fifty-fifty thing. The host of a fundraiser usually counts the cost of throwing the event as their contribution, and often will even release data noting how much total was raised as a statistic showing their own accomplishment. Then again at a charity event it certainly wouldn't hurt if Salamander Salvage or Homura herself made a point of directly donating. In the end that's a decision Homura will have to make for herself!
Would someone who just broke up with someone, only to have them go on a dark energy rampage call them a 'sweet boy'? "...you know what I suddenly very much think it isn't Takashi-kun at all."
Madoka flushes at the mention of jewelry so nice it might get her mugged. "I know you wouldn't! Though if it was something that nice I think I'd want to rent it rather than buy it, anyway." Having a closet full of gorgeous dresses is somehow different to her than having a jewelry box full of gems and gold, it seems. A soft smile and a knowing nod is given to Homura's comment about her family. Yep, that's exactly it.
"Hmm... I usually wear poofy sleeves because I think they're cute. I don't know about my shoulders, though." She looks down to her shoulder, frowning minutely because with a tie on, a suit jacket, and a buttoned up shirt there's no way she can get a look at it right now. "Well... you saw me in my swimsuit, what do you think?" After a moment she hums, "I might have gotten a bit of a tan, so maybe I should go with open shoulders?"
Madoka giggles, stepping closer to Homura, "If it'd get in the way of our dancing I think a train wouldn't be the best idea, Homura-chan. Though if you were tripping into me I suppose I wouldn't mind~." Homura says something about a layered dress with a big bow on the back and Madoka's natural instincts take over, "That would be beautiful on you, Homura-chan!" Says the girl who very obviously has a thing for layers and bows and frills and lace. "B-but that's just what I think."
In a way Homura's whole company is a donation, since she could've just retired young on that kind of money. She'd have more than enough for herself as it is, but now it's invested. Well, it's not like that wasn't her intention to begin with.
"Yeah that detail makes it hard to believe." says Homura with a shrug. Whoever she's going with, it's a mystery.
Renting jewelry instead of buying it? "Well, that's fair. Buying it isn't necessary. I admittedly forgot that renting was a thing. It'd be a waste to buy something we wouldn't even want to keep." After all, even though Homura has more than enough money to spend on herself and Madoka, she's still mostly bought outfits and plushies, with only an occasional necklace and that was on their three month anniversary. "We can do that if you'd prefer. That sounds good to me."
Poofy shoulders as opposed to open ones. "Well I do like your poofy sleeves. I think poofy shoulders would make you look more like a princess, with open shoulders making you look a bit more modern." After considering it for a moment, with a sparkle in her eyes, Homura says, "You know what? I think I'd like open shoulders better. Open shoulders, long white gloves and a shimmering pink dress. Maybe a bit of a reddish pink so that it stands out against the gloves?"
"...and with me wearing a deep violet, with black gloves, and a black bow in the back, I think we'd look cute together. When we dance we'd be like a colorful mix of girly." She giggles.
That's just what Madoka thinks? Homura leans closer to Madoka, whispering, "Well that's what's most important, my dear."
"I don't think they do it for smaller things, but if you want something extravagant you can talk to jewelers about rending." Of course you need to pay up for an insurance policy too! She looks up towards the ceiling, "Mama told me once that models and movie stars don't even rent; jewelers just give things to them to wear and make sure they say where they got it from and give it back after their parties." She giggles and shakes her head, "I don't think I'd want to be that popular though! I enjoy my private time with you far too much for that."
Renting their jewelry would make a lot of sense, and so long as it was tasteful wearing something expensive would make sense as the hostess(es?) of the event. Not that Madoka is actually formally putting her name on it; sure she was the lead organizer, but she's more than happy to let 'Salamander Salvage' take the real credit. Hosting an event is one thing when it's mostly people she knows, but she doesn't exactly want to meet and greet every single person at a high society function! "I think so. I like looking pretty, but I don't really want to waste money." Looking thoughtful for a moment she adds, "If I was going to buy very expensive jewelry... I think I'd end up buying something simple and donating the difference instead. A pair of earrings for me could be a new roof for a poor family, right?"
Poofy shoulders or not poofy shoulders, that is the question! How much Madoka values Homura's opinion becomes very clear, because with every point she makes she becomes convinced of one style, and then the other. Maybe it'd make her look spineless in another situation, but this is all about how beautiful she can look to the person making the points! "Oh, I like that! Long white gloves and open shoulders, with a light gauzy sash." Her eyes widen a little and she smiles, "And I think a sash would look better with open shoulders anyway!" She steps forward and hugs Homura, moving away enough to take her by the arms and spin in a happy motion, "You're so smart and fashionable, Homura-chan!"
"A pink dress with some bright red mixed in would be really pretty." Madoka adds a little once she calms down. When Homura talks about what she could wear to compliment it Madoka doesn't hug her again so much as melt against her in dreamy fashion, "You'd look so good, Homura-chan!"
'When we dance we'd be like a colorful mix of girly.'
"..." The sparkling in her eyes more visible than ever, Madoka nearly swoons in Homura's arms at such a wonderful description. "That would be the best ever..." she says in a quiet, happy voice. Homura whispers to her and Madoka looks up into her eyes, "Either we need to find these dresses right away, or you need to kiss me."
Homura considers just how 'extravagant' she'd want to get, then shrugs. "Jewelry is not a requirement. I was thinking some amethyst earrings for myself maybe. Nothing too gaudy for me, just classy, though I'd be more than happy to buy or rent whatever you'd like! I'd be more than happy to help you pick something out, dear."
Models and movie stars don't even rent? They just get loaned things, so that they'll advertise? Homura considers if she's really in that league, and then she decides that she might not like the attention. Especially when Madoka mentions private time. "Right. Yeah, I'd want to keep that, too. Especially considering we can barely keep our hands off of eachother. It'd be hard to relax sweetly in your gentle arms if someone's always sticking their nose in our business."
Then the comparison to a roof is mentioned, and Homura winces a little. "Easily. Or a bathroom. Or an entire apartment depending on what price range we're talking about. Jewelry can get really expensive. Heck, my car is expensive and it's still cheaper than some of the accessories we could buy." When it's put like that, it seems a bit wasteful.
"Personally, I think you already look beautiful without it, especially in a nice dress. It's not a requirement. I only brought it up because this is the kind of thing you tend to see at a function like this. Considering the kind of work that Salamander does, Jewelry is usually a detriment, anyways. You and I have had plenty of chances to buy jewelry before, yet we rarely ever do. It's just not our thing."
Homura's pretty confident that her tastes play a big role in what Madoka wants to wear. In all reality Homura is more inclined to let Madoka decide on her own, but Madoka wants to wear something that Homura likes and the best way she can help with that is to tell her. The fact that her recommendations seem to be making Madoka happy isn't exactly a disincentive, either.
Madoka compliments her and hugs her, and this time it doesn't catch Homura off guard. She wraps her arms around her girlfriend and smiles at her softly. "I'm just trying to make you happy." When Madoka starts melting, Homura starts feeling pretty proud of herself. She leans in at the requested kiss, making it sweet and soft and lasting for maybe... what... has it been ten seconds? Thirty? Homura lost count. When she pulls away, she whispers, "Let's go order our dresses, before I start fainting in your arms."
Madoka nods and hums. It is true, jewelry isn't required but is pretty common at such high class functions. She feels a bit silly when Homura mentions simple amethyst earrings, starting to think she might have jumped the gun a bit on worrying about what her parents might think. "I do think something small and simple would be nice, that could bring attention to my face without taking all of it by itself."
Can hardly keep their hands off each other? It's not in the way most people would think, but it's decidedly true. "Luckily we don't have to when we're out on the dancefloor," Madoka replies happily. "I think we will want to spend plenty of time mingling, though. I felt a little bad after we went off on our own so early at the party, considering how long it lasted." Not hours and hours into the night, basically. "B-but I did really enjoy the time we spent together, too."
It's such a conundrum. She likes being social and talking to people and seeing others interact, especially when it's something she put together enabling that interaction. But at the same time the lure of going off into her own little world with her beautiful girlfriend is a powerful one, almost impossible to ignore. Especially when Homura is mentioning it in such sweet ways, "It would be a shame to only be able hold you gently in my arms when you've stopped time." Because unlike most people Homura is capable of making time for her in a literal sense as well as a metaphorical one.
"Even if I was going to spend that much money on clothing, I think I'd rather spend it on more or better dresses anyway," Madoka muses about the cost of jewelry, "If I was wearing something that cost more than my dress, I think I'd rather have bought a second dress." Her lips curl up into a bright smile and she giggles at the compliment. "Thank you, my love. You look beautiful to me no matter what you're wearing." It's not even an exaggeration. Homura could be wearing a worn out t-shirt and shorts and Madoka would probably just think she looked homey in a very snuggly way.
Homura's tastes do go a long ways in helping Madoka decide what to wear, but it's also true that Homura's tastes in what Madoka might wear tends to coincide with what she'd want to wear anyway. She also has a hard time deciding on specifics when her options are all different kinds of beautiful dresses. When everything looks amazing to her it can be hard to decide; in truth she's sometimes leaning on Homura to help break her indecision as much as she is catering to her girlfriend's whims.
"You make me very happy," Madoka whispers to Homura. Her eyes close and she happily accepts and returns the kiss, losing track of time and not even caring. The comfortable arms of her girlfriend around her, their warm bodies hugged together, and soft lips against her own. Madoka's fingers spread and press gently to Homura's back, making a sound like a coo as the wonderful, tender kiss is given to her. This time she does pursue when Homura attempts to break the kiss, hugging closer and lifting on her toes to press her lips more firmly against Homura's for a few more seconds before pulling away and letting her speak, a warm blush on her lips as she looks coyly up into beautiful purple eyes.
"Okay," she replies in a whisper quiet voice. "But once we order them lets go faint in each other's arms for real."
"Well if you want something like that, I'm sure I can get you some pink sapphire earrings." Homura winks playfully. "Maybe we can wear earrings in the shape of our soul gems? Teardrop shaped earrings would not be that hard to get, and not that pricey."
'We can hardly get through a conversation without wanting to cuddle' is exactly what Homura means by that and nothing else. It's a good thing they both like snuggling as much as they do.
Homura considers the thought of mingling, and she nods. "Yeah, we should. As much as I love spending time with you, it might be better if we spent some time chatting with people. We need each other so much, it's hard to not just hold you forever. Plus... at the last party, I might be somewhat to blame for that. I could've chatted more and played volleyball with the others, but I decided to be an introvert instead."
Homura considers, "I'll try to be social, too. It's so easy to just cuddle you forever, but we do have other friends and we shouldn't just ignore them. Especially if they might need our help for something."
Madoka mentions that she'd rather spend that money on more dresses, and Homura just laughs. "I know, right? Me, too. If I keep buying clothes I'm going to need more closets. Either that or I'll have to start donating the old ones." Madoka would look good to her in something homey, too. Like a teddy bear worn out from years of love. That's probably what would come to Homura's mind if she saw Madoka in something like a torn tee-shirt and shorts.
Homura does have a lot in common with Madoka in terms of tastes. Madoka just so happens to keep wearing beautiful things. Almost everything Madoka wears just so happens to be beautiful. Madoka is somehow always be-- okay Homura needs to stop thinking about that before her brain melts. The warmth in her eyes is the only sign that she might be thinking of something cute.
'You make me very happy.'
"Good," whispers Homura. The kiss is love and warmth and comfort, and when she pulls away she is dragged back in, lips smiling as they presses against Madoka's. She holds Madoka tight, letting black hair fall over her.
After they break, and Madoka talks about what they should do after, a saleswoman clears her throat. Homura blushes, looking towards her as the saleswoman. "Can I help you find something?"
Homura clears her throat, leaving one arm around Madoka's waist, leisurely hanging there, warmly wrapped close. "Yes! Actually. My girlfriend and I would like to custom order a pair of dresses. Do you... um... have fabrics we can look at?"
"Sure thing!" she says cheerfully, gesturing towards an aisle displaying a racks full of rolls of fabric. "Did you have something in mind?"
"I was thinking of something like silk, actually. It's a high-class event, so we want to look our best." Homura states, then looks at Madoka. "Should we go?" With the way she's holding her arm around Madoka, she might be intending to hug her the entire way, or at least offering to.
Soul Gem shaped earrings gets a giggle out of Madoka, "If we do that I'd be tempted to wear one of my necklaces, too." She is right though, it wouldn't be terribly expensive, especially since pink and purple are 'off' colors for most stones, and amethyst's are rather inexpensive as far as gems go.
"It would be nice to just snuggle and dance together all night, and I might just go ahead and do that... except this is for charity, and I'd feel bad not mingling with people who were nice enough to donate to a good cause." She giggles a little, "Not all of them though. I've made some preparations to make sure that doesn't happen this time." A bright smile, "Being able to coordinate everything under the Salamander Salvage name has helped a whole lot, too! As the Secretary of the owner and CEO, and the representative of the company I can convince people I'm serious so much more easily."
When Homura mentions needing more closets Madoka fakes shock, "But you already have seven! And how many of them are walk in? You already have fancy dresses for every day of the week!" This she says as she literally looks at various black and purple dresses on display.
Madoka is alone with Homura in a world of sweetness, hugs, and kisses, and then all of a sudden she's back in the real world with a saleswoman nearby who must be wondering if these two suited girls are actually looking to buy something or if they just want a new place to kiss. Her face turns fittingly red. Lucky for her Homura manages to speak up before Madoka can stammer out an embarrassed and confused sounding response. Homu to the rescue!
To Homura's note of silk she adds, "Maybe some chiffon as well, for layering?" To the saleswoman she specifies, "That's right; it's a formal charity event so classy ball gowns is what we're intending."
Madoka never actually stopped hugging Homura, and as she offers to go she blushes darker for a moment before letting go with one arm and moving to her side, following the saleswoman to the rows rolls of fabric. Her eyes widen a bit as she sees all the options, starting to get overwhelmed before she realizes she can tune out most of the color spectrum on favor of various pinks, whites, purples, and blacks. "This might take a while..."
"Don't we have a set of necklaces like that?" says Homura, thinking back. "We could wear those, too. It'd be nice, since we have a matching set of necklaces. I'd have a hint of your color on me, and you'd have a bit of my color on you."
"Yes, that would be nice, and is tempting, but we can also do that alone. It's a social event, and it'd defeat the point if we weren't social." Certainly, throwing the name of the company around would probably get attention pretty quickly. Especially with Homura making such an impression with her sudden riches. "Still, we don't have to meet everyone ourselves. As cold as it might sound, we are busy people."
Homura giggles at Madoka's fake shock. "I have closets for each day of the week!"
The saleswoman is friendly enough, smiling and happy to talk to them. Especially if they did come here for business. She hears Madoka's request. "Chiffon? Of course! Right this way. Though I should tell you that the owners like to design the dresses themselves. If you'd like, I could tell them what you had in mind and see what they come up with?"
Homura hesitates at this, considering. She's used to coming up with her own costumes, but the saleswoman holds up her hands and says, "They're really good! I promise! They won't disappoint! When would you need them by?"
"The dance is Thursday night, so if you could have them ready by Thursday morning..." starts Homura, watching the woman's face turn a little pale. "Look... I know it's a rush, but money is no object. I just want it done."
The saleswoman nods. "I'll go talk to them. Please, feel free to look around, you two!" She starts heading off, and Homura looks sheepishly at Madoka.
"I think we might've scared her." Ooops!