It's been a few days since Mami and Homura agreed to hold a meeting at her house to discuss Walpurgisnacht. Both of them are meeting their respective groups, inviting them, and trying to make sure they can bring as much firepower to bear against this threat as they possibly can.
And one of those people that Mami wants to have at the meeting is Madoka Kaname. She hasn't expressed this desire to Homura because Mami doesn't want to risk being told no - this is an ask forgiveness rather than permission move.
And, the pink-haired girl is simply delightful company! So, rather than just send her a text message, Mami has invited her over for lunch - something different than cakes sits on the table as Mami has made some small snacking sandwiches with cute little toothpicks on them - and tea, of course, but no meal is complete without tea. She's finished setting everything up and is rocking back and forth a little bit in her boots, waiting for Madoka. It's waiting in her lonely apartment that often makes her apprehensive and might be why she spends so much time out hunting witches.
The last that Madoka knew Mami and Homura had agreed to what was effectively a truce in order to help each other fight Walpurgisnacht, what she understood to be some crazy powerful witch. The fact that a crazy powerful witch was coming was upsetting. The fact that Mami and Homura would work together to stop it was just the silver lining it needed. She probably wouldn't be thinking about that so much if she knew just how dangerous the Walpurgisnacht was.
But blissfully ignorant of the oncoming danger she makes her way over to Mami's house, wearing her now commonplace scarf, winter coat, and mittens over light blue dress. She felt like a bit of a different color for a change, and that shade of blue can be a good match for winter.
She has no idea just how anxious for her arrival Mami might be but despite this she's shows up a few minutes early. You never know when you might run into a delay on the way over, after all, and something about Mami makes her not want to be late or be seen to have poor manners. Five minutes before she's supposed to be there she knocks on the door with. If the door isn't open soon she'll remember she's wearing mittens, pull them off, and knock a fair bit louder.
Mami hears the first knock and it's so early she almost tilts too far back on her boots in a moment of shock (not that she hasn't been staring at the clock) before running over to open the door. You check for strange people at your door less often when a full arsenal of guns is a henshin away.
But of course, it's Madoka, just taking off her mittens, and she's met with a huge smile. "Come on in and, thank you for coming. I didn't want to just exchange text messages." she admits. And she gestures to the immaculately-set table.
"How are you doing? Please, have a seat Kaname-san. It's much warmer in here!"
The door opens and Madoka smiles happily upon seeing Mami, "You're welcome, Mami-san. Coming over to visit you is always fun." She steps just inside the door and carefully takes off her boots, not wanting to track anything in. Especially not with there still being snow on the ground! She almost feels a little bad setting the gritty soles of her boots down inside Mami's immaculately clean apartment.
After she's done removing her boots, coat, and scarf she walks over to the table, her soft pink eyes widening a little. She presses her hands together and makes an appreciative sound, "Ahh, you're always so well prepared when you have visitors over!" She sits down at one edge of the table, eagerly looking over the sandwiches and tea. She's admiring the perfect layout first and foremost!
Considering the question put to her Madoka almost blushes. Instead she gives Mami a very bright smile, "I'm very well, thank you!" She's making decent grades in school, none of her friends have been put in the hospital in the last couple of weeks, she's spending a bunch of time with Homura, and she also has a great boyfriend! Sure, there are some very bad things happening, but for Madoka personally it's hard to imagine a time in her life when things were going better. "How about you, Mami-san? I hope you're well, also."
She carefully picks up her teacup and takes a sip, enjoying the warmth of it after coming in from the cold, closing her eyes and giving another smile to Mami.
Mami smiles and her heart warms at each of Madoka's little compliments. "Well, when I have special guests over anyways, Kaname-san!" Of course every guest is special... "It's easy to prepare when I have such polite guests, too." she adds as she shuts the door. Guests are so much better than crushing loneliness, anyways.
"I'm so glad to hear you're doing well, Kaname-san. I'm doing alright, all things considered." she says, a bit softly. "Kaname-san, has Akemi-san warned you about what's coming? About Walpurgisnacht?" she asks, softly. It's been taking a lot of her time lately, as well. That's why there are papers stacked (neatly) in odd places in Mami's living room. (They were less neat yesterday.)
Madoka giggles softly at the mention of special guests. She doesn't consider herself very special in that regard, though when she thinks about it for a moment she does have to admit that following Mami around when she hunts witches isn't exactly a thing 'normal' guests would be doing. The mention of her manners being polite gets another smile from her. She's a little proud she hasn't embarrassed herself!
A soft hum is given along with a nod when the elegant blonde Puella qualifies her statement, "You work very hard to keep everyone safe from Witches, don't you, Mami-san?" More than any other Puella she knows, though admittedly not a whole lot, Mami is ever vigilant and out on the prowl to prevent attacks before they can happen or make sure they end without loss of life. There's an admiration for that and it shows in Madoka's eyes, though she doesn't explicitly state it.
Then a small nod, "Yes, Homura-chan has told me that Walpurgisnact is incredibly dangerous, she-" pause. Wait, how... much does Mami know of Homura's past? Madoka finds herself in a bind and has to recover. "She wants to try and get everyone to fight it together," she finishes lamely.
Something about Mami has been bothering Madoka though, and she can't quite figure out what. Except now, suddenly, she realizes what it is. "Oh! By the way, you can call me Madoka if you like by the way; I usually like all my friends to call me by my first name."
"I do." she says softly. It's not a humble thing to say, and so admitting she works hard might be impolite, but Madoka's only seen a tiny fraction of what Mami does, and she's eager to get a little recognition for it all. "I work hard, but like I said - it's the trade I agreed to make with Kyubey."
"Okay, I'm glad she told you it was coming. I know she worries I'm trying to show you too much and expose you to too much danger..." she admits "...but likewise I fear she may be trying to shelter you too much." she finishes. "Yes, Walpurgisnacht is coing, and... there's going to be a meeting, we're going to discuss it there. I know you're not a Puella Magi, and you might not wish beforehand. But I'd... still like to have you there, in case you do, or in case something happens... It just feels like something you should be at, to me."
"Ohhh. I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable, Kaname-san... wait... I just did it again." Mami leans over, apologetically, and grabs Madoka's hand. "Madoka-san, then. I can work with that. I'm just so used to calling everyone by their last names... I don't want to be too forward." she admits. Being proper is very important to her.
Madoka takes a small sip of her tea while Mami is accepting the recognition. It doesn't seem impolite to her at all. She'd actually feel pretty bad if she thought Mami was getting short shrift for all the hard work she puts in. She makes a thoughtful sound at the mention of her contract, and Madoka considers aloud, "Is that really okay? You might be fighting in exchange for your wish, but I don't think it's right not to be commended for it."
She tilts her head a little to the side, looking upward for a moment before continuing, "That would be like someone making excellent grades at school and getting ignored, or a someone at Mama's work doing a great job on a project and not getting any kudos for it. Maybe it wouldn't be right for you to expect to be praised, but that doesn't mean the people who know what you're doing shouldn't applaud you for it. People who do a good job deserve to be told. So... thank you for all the hard work you put in, Mami-san!"
On to business she seems curious when the meeting is mentioned and it isn't hard to tell just by that reaction that it's the first she's heard of it. "I don't think she'd be to worried about me going to a meeting, especially if she was there. That doesn't sound like something especially dangerous, and she hasn't been trying to keep Walpurgisnacht a secret from me." She doesn't need very long to consider, "I'll go if you think I should be there, Mami-san. Just tell me when and where to be."
Madoka blinks a little and gives a small shake of her head, but smiles when Mami takes her hands, turning them over so she can hold them back. "You didn't make me uncomfortable. It just seemed... a little distant?" She blushes a little and shakes her head, "I guess I might be being a little forward, but when it comes to being friendly I think I always am, just a little."
"Well, I wasn't promised recognition, Madoka-san." she says with an almost grin. "Just my wish. Not that the recognition isn't... really nice. And I thank you for being so kind as to notice it, and mention it. I think there are Puella Magi who go their whole lives without really being known so that matters a whole lot to me."
"I'm glad to hear that. Akemi-san is always... she's an unknown quantity to me, I guess." Mami admits. "But I'm glad to have her help dealing with this. And I'm glad to hear you'll come. Maybe seeing you there will keep her focused too!" she adds. It's not meant to scare Madoka or put pressure on her - but it still might just.
"Well, Madoka-san is just as easy for me to say as Kaname-san. So it doesn't bother me. You can call me Mami-san if you prefer, as well. But as far as I know I'm the only Tomoe-san around, so most people will know who you mean." she adds, popping a small sandwich bite into her mouth.
"I think what you do is amazing, so I'm happy to recognize you, Mami-san," Madoka replies simply. Just because she's decided not to make use of Kyubey's contract unless there is some extreme need or emergency doesn't mean she doesn't look up to Mami and other magical girls. Even now she thinks of what it might be like to be as cool as that, not to mention being able to save people in trouble. Were it not for Homura and her warnings Mami would have convinced her it was worth the contract long, long ago.
"If you can ever be certain about Homura-chan's intentions it's now, Mami-san. She called Walpurgisnacht is the most delicate time... she's very worried about what might happen if things go badly." The smile Madoka gives Mami next isn't quite so brightly friendly, but rather gentle and soft, "I know she will be focused." Then with a sudden giggle she adds, "I promise not to distract her too much."
Seeing Mami eat part of her sandwich means Madoka is no longer worried doing so herself would be bad manners, and quickly begins eating one of her own. "These are wonderful, Mami-san! Thank you for taking the time to make something so nice when it's just me coming over."
Mami nods. She goes through moments where she feels amazing - when she's hunting witches and filling them full of magical rifle rounds - and moments where it's very, very lonely.
"I think you're right, Madoka-san. She's aware of the danger it poses, and I think she's working as hard as I am. It feels good to be working with someone so dedicated to protecting the city. And with her and Anshi-chan that makes our chances better... and I'm sure Sakura-san and Miki-san will be willing to help as well. And then there's the other magical people... I think we're in a better position than a lot of other Puella Magi in history have when Walpurgisnacht appears."
"Well, you coming over is a really good reason to practice being a good hostess... it's something I really like, having people over, seeing them smile." she admits.
"Not just Puella Magi either," Madoka notes after nodding in agreement, looking a bit far off for a moment. "Mostly it had only been Puella fighting Walpugrisnacht in the past, but now there are all kinds of other magical heroes as well. And I don't think any of them want to see the kind of damage that might happen if it isn't stopped."
She's actually making a bit of a mistake here, letting on that she knows more than she should. Madoka has no idea that Mami has been told about Homura's timetraveling, so she's trying not to say too much that might invite odd questions she can't answer. Of course it's historically true as well that Puella Magi have stood alone against witches just as in Homura's previous timeloops, and she does have Kyubey as a potential resource.
The note Mami ends on gets another laugh from her, "I'm happy to come over if you decide you want more practice, Mami-san."
Mami nods. "I think since everyone's going to work out alright. It's just that it's so dangerous we need to make sure everybody knows what it can do - I still don't want to mourn anyone tomorrow." she admits, growing a bit quiet by the end. "I'm sure it'll be okay if everyone just works together, though!"
"But I'm glad you'll come, too. Maybe you'll be able to meet some more friends, too!" she adds, clapping a bit. "I was going to host it here, but... Homura's place is much better for big crowds, and we want everyone we can."
"Be careful Madoka-san or I'll take you up on that offer and you'll be here all the time." she says, laughing a bit.
Madoka shakes her head a little, "No, there's been enough of that already." True, so far as she knows only one person died, and in truth they were still very much alive, if subverted and brainwashed. But the overall impact that one person had when everyone thought they were dead was incredible, and not in a good way. Mami's hopeful finish puts a smile on her face, though.
"I agree! I think that if everyone works together everything will be alright. And... I'm also hoping that if everyone realizes how well working as a team can be that maybe it'll be the first step towards something even better..." No, she has not even begun to give up hope that everyone can eventually fight together for the unified cause of keeping Tokyo safe. She might not say it much around Homura, but she doesn't think Mami will be so quick to point out the potential pitfalls in making it happen.
The pink haired girl smiles brightly at the thought of meeting new friends, "That would be very nice! ...though since Walpurgisnacht is such a danger I probably shouldn't bother too many people." She looks around the room and tilts her head a little. She can see it handling all the Puella Magi she knows well enough. ...but then she starts thinking of all the other mahou she knows and giggles.
"It would be a shame to mess up your pretty apartment by overcrowding it so much, Mami-san!" There's no slight in that- she's actually envisioning a literal crowd of people crashing into things and knocking them over and otherwise making a tremendous mess.
"But you're such a gracious host, Mami-san. I have a lot of fun when I'm over here, even when we're just talking." And eating snacks and drinking tea, which seems to be about as common in this apartment as breathing.
Mami nods, though Mami has a lot more deaths and losses to consider than she can share with Madoka. "I want everyone to work together in a team. I'm afraid it might not ever work for everyone, but even then that doesn't mean it might not be something that some of us can do together. So I have hope, too. It'd be nice to turn this monster into a small positive."
"Well, hopefully it won't be super-morose. I'm going to bring a lot of cake. There will be so many people there it'd be a shame if it ended up being really boring, I think. And yeah, my apartment doesn't have the open space Akemi-san's does." Then mami giggles a bit. "After all, I have actual furniture in here." And no creepy swinging chandelier.
"Well, I think Akemi-san and I had it out enough. We had a nice talk later after that witch fight too, and we're square. So, that's a nice start."
A warm smile spreads across Madoka's face as Mami says what she was thinking directly. "I think so, too. Of course it will be terrible if people get hurt, but just because there is something terrible doesn't mean there can't also be something good at the same time."
"There's going to be cake?" Madoka asks, perking up almost immediately, "That almost sounds like a party as much as a meeting." The mention of Homura's house having a lot of open space and not much furniture actually has Madoka covering her mouth with her hand and laughing. "I can almost see it! Homura-chan's house filled with magical people having a party after the meeting is over."
Madoka's smile softens again when she hears the two veteran Puella had talked. "A very good start," she agrees. Then, for a moment, she looks down into her tea, her expression changing to something even and thoughtful.
"Mami-san? Have you known Kyouko-san a very long time? I know it was here she brought me that one time..." she's trying to be as delicate as possible. Once upon a time she might have considered Mami an accomplice to that, but sitting across from the table from her eating sandwiches and drinking tea that hardly seems like it could have been the case.
"Kyouko-san and Homura-chan... they don't see eye to eye at all. That's what I'm most worried about. I think once she sees that Homura-chan is just doing everything she can to try and prepare for Walpurgisnacht that Sayaka-chan will realize she's not a bad person. But Kyouko-san... she still blames Homura-chan for something she didn't even do." A quick shake of her head, "I'm not saying she shouldn't have stopped that from happening, because she should have, but I don't think it's very fair at all for Homura-chan's mistakes to be held against her for so long when other people's have been forgiven."
Mami nods. "Well, I can't say nobody will get hurt. But I think if everybody keeps their heads on straight, we'll all survive. Healing, we can manage."
Mami giggles a bit behind her hand. "I don't think I could host a meeting without cake. Besides, having something sweet to taste tends to make people behave nicer!" Ah, the true nefarious secret of the veteran magical girl! "Or at least talk out of turn less while they're mouths are full." she adds with a wink before eating another tiny sandwich. Of course, being Mami, she finishes it before speaking again.
"Sakura-san..." Mami lets out a really large sigh. "We used to be partners. She called me her senpai. But then something happened to her, and it tore and her heart. And we fought, and she left. So there's a bit of history. She trusts me, I think... but she's also hurting inside." she notes, astutely. "And she makes really dumb decisions, like when she brought you here - I don't know what she was thinking when she did all that. I don't think she's a bad person... just lead astray."
"Sakura-san has a hard time forgiving other people of their mistakes because she hasn't forgiven herself for her own." Mami says finally, taking a sip of tea before refilling both cups.
"If your cake is as good as it usually is everyone will remember the meeting because of it," Madoka offers playfully with a smile. She giggles at the 'secret' and for a moment imagines everyone sitting quietly and eating cake while Homura and Mami are giving pointers. For some reason this is happening in a classroom rather than Homura's house.
She goes ahead and helps herself to another small sandwich when Mami begins talking, suppressing another giggle because it means she can't talk and interrupt. She does make a worried sound when something bad is referenced to without being spoken directly. She thinks about saying something but decides against it. Madoka isn't going to argue that trying to kidnap her wasn't a terrible, stupid decision.
"She's trying to be better, or Sayaka-chan says she is. I know those two care about each other a lot. Sakaya-chan was there for Kyouko-san when she needed it, even though she didn't even have any powers." Not forgiving people because she can't forgive herself? Madoka doesn't completely understand that, but it makes her a little sad. "I hope she can learn how..."
"It might even be better than it usually is. I'm going all out!" Mami says, as baking for others is one of the few things that don't involve shooting witches which gets her excited.
"I hope you're right, Madoka-san. She was great when she worked with me. I still miss her as a partner. We worked well together, too. But she's got Miki-san now." There is a massive tone of almost jealous sadness in her voice. "I knew Miki-san was going to make a great magical girl when I talked to her. I just hope she doesn't end up bitter like Sakura-san."
Madoka smiles happily, "I can't wait to try it! But I think I'll have to, since it wouldn't be nice to everyone else if I got to try some of your delicious cake before them."
Another worried sound is made as Mami says she hopes Sayaka doesn't end up bitter. Actually it's for Mami's sake as well; Madoka is fairly good at picking up on people's feelings. "I hope so too. Though I think they could be well suited to one another. Sayaka-chan could help Kyouko-san think more about others, and Kyouko-san could help Sayaka-chan be a little less intense about judging people."
The fact that she's Kyouko's friend should attest to that. ...though actually worrying about that judgmental gaze getting directed by Kyouko's own bias's is why Madoka brought up this topic of conversation in the first place.
"It sounds like you still care for Kyouko-san a lot," Madoka comments after a few moments of being quiet, lifting her teacup and taking a sip with closed eyes as a way of hiding her expression.
Mami laughs. "Yes, Madoka, you have to wait too." There's a good natured ribbing there. "When it comes to those two, I hope you're right. And I'm trying to be hopeful. But I've seen too many Puella Magi end up... thinking of themselves first." she admits.
"Well..." Mami says, taking a drink of tea to steady herself. "I do care about her. We worked together for a long time. And seeing her acting like this isn't easy. But I tried to help her. I tried words, I tried fighting. I guess it's just out of my hands."
Madoka has the decency to pout and then look chastised as she's told she'll have to wait her proper turn for cake. She hums a little again when Mami mentions Puella Magi thinking of themselves first. The image she's always had of magical girls is of putting other people before themselves, but then before she'd actually gotten involved with real ones she had no idea how harsh their lives could be.
"That must be very hard for you, having to see a friend hurting and not being able to help them," Madoka notes. She feels a little bad now for bringing all of that up, especially when it doesn't look like she'll be gaining any special insights into how to ease tensions between Kyouko and Homura.
Mami just nods a bit. "I have had to... let Sakura-san go." she admits. "When she brought you here, actually, is where I began to do so. I'm trying to not hold any hostility against her. But... she does not want me to dig too deeply into her business. She has made this clear. So I have been trying to follow her requests."
Madoka nods a little. Eventually she just lets out a sigh, "Some people can be very difficult to deal with." She decides not to say anything further on that topic, not wanting to continue even further down what seems likely to be a very depressing topic for Mami.
She looks into her tea for a few moments before turning her eyes back to Mami, changing the topic completely, "I know I can't have any, but can you tell me what kind of cakes your making for the meeting? I bet they're going to be amazing! And you always decorate them so beautifully, they look just as nice as they taste."
As the tiny sandwiches dissappear, the talk about Kyouko has put Mami into... a wholy different state. It's starting to show just how much it's gotten to her. But the talk of cakes? The talk of cakes she can work with.
And so Mami ends the talk of Puella Magi, Walpurgisnacht, and Kyouko Sakura specifically, to regail Madoka with tales about fancy cakes of all kinds until the two of them part ways.