"I'm sorry.. I was thinking of my dad. I've been doing that a lot lately."
"I think he may not have died for nothing after all."
Put on a bright face and have fun with my friends. Don't take things too seriously today. Go to vollyball practice after school.
[Joy]
You try to put on a bright smile and distract yourself from thoughts of your father, but it doesn't really work well; this is something that you've wanted--no,
needed--to know, for years, and it isn't easy to just ignore now that the answer is right there. Neither of your friends seem to be convinced by your pitiful attempt at smiling, but they don't keep picking at the subject.
The rest of the school day passes quickly, though it's hard to pay attention during classes. Your friends try to engage you in discussion a few times, and you talk a bit, but can never really add much, preoccupied as you are. That all changes during volleyball practice. It's finally something which can actually distract you from your thoughts, and you throw yourself fully into it.
[Joy]...Despite this, you do unusually poorly. Perhaps it's because this is the first time you've done volleyball since you made your wish, but your legs seem too long, or too short, and your balance is all over the place. Halfway through one match you jump directly into one of your teammates, knocking him over, and you can't seem to land any good shots with the ball. Others notice, and a couple even outright ask you why you're doing so poorly. It's embarrassing, since you're usually one of the best players, and you begin to get a bit angry towards the end of practice.
You get to start the last practice match, and open with a jump serve, hitting it as hard as you can... which turns out to be far,
far harder than you've ever been able to hit the ball before. It shoots over the net faster than you can track, and slams right into one of your opponents' torso. The girl is
thrown to the ground by the force of the hit. Everyone, including you, just stops and stares at her as she writhes on the ground while clawing at her chest, her mouth opening and closing as she fails to breath.
A few seconds of silence later, the coach blasts his whistle and comes running over to the downed girl, getting on his knees and trying to help her. He says something about practice being over for the day, but most people just mill around him in confusion, trying to see what he's doing, without getting in the way. A few other kids look at you with surprise and... fear? Nobody says anything, they just stare at you.
Are you going to stick around, or leave while everyone's still confused at what just happened?Who knew food could taste so good? It was hardly a 5-star meal, but to Mina her breakfast felt like that after she realized just how hungry she was. She'd even asked for seconds - rare enough when she was actually doing well (who has time to eat a bunch when there's things to do?), let alone when she's not (bleh, just remembering how food tasted the last... she didn't even know at this point... *shiver). But this time she wolfed it down probably faster than was probably entirely safe, downed her drink just as quickly, and then asked for more. Then, doctor time.
Mina had been quite cheerful throughout the whole process despite knowing full well she was healthy. A check-up would be boring, obviously, but if it reassured her parents she could handle it! They'd been so worried... she sorta felt bad about worrying them, even when she was always assured that wasn't her fault. She pretended she hadn't heard the doctor speaking with her parents and gave the doctor just as big a smile. "I knooow. I'll be sure to wash my hands,
eat healthy, all the good stuff. I'll be careful, don't want to worry you-know-who more, right?" she said, the last bit fake-whispered conspiratorially to the doctor. She knew she wouldn't relapse - it'd hardly be a wish if all she got was a brief reprieve now would it? ...Although come to think of it, the only proof she had was that ring and who the heck knew what had been happening the last few- nope, nope not going down that train of thought.
As they piled into the car, Mina regained her high spirits... wherever she wanted? A girl can do a lot of damage with that broad a request... but she wouldn't, because honestly there wasn't a whole lot she did want to do in that vein. "...I've been cooped up in the house for who-knows-how-long already, haven't I? Is there a big park or something we can visit, do you think?"
^Make suggestion/request.
Your father nods and smiles at your suggestion, while your mother sighs. "The park it is! You used to like visiting the one near your school, right?" You say yes, and soon you're on your way. It's not a long drive, but you find yourself antsy to get out of the car anyway; you've spent much too long in various enclosed spaces.
[Creativity]
The park is even nicer than you remember. Everything looks crisper, sounds clearer, it's almost like you've somehow wandered into an alternate world where everything is just
slightly better than it should be. It's strange to say, but even the trees look like art, covered in intricate and exact detail that you've just never really noticed before. A particularly strong gust blows past, and you can hear the collective sound of a thousand individual leaves shivering at once.
You lose track of time, just taking everything in. At some point you come across a nice woman walking his dog, and she lets you pet it for awhile, with your father crouched next to you protectively. Mostly, though, you just walk and run around, enjoying the fact that you actually have the energy to wander as much as you want, for once.
It has to end eventually though. Your father gets a call, and walks some distance away to answer it, while you sit down with your mother. Despite the distance, you can hear every word of the conversation clearly, as if you were standing right there. The man on the phone sounds happy and friendly, but your father's voice is full of barely-restrained anger.
"I need you to come in. We're understaffed, and I know you're available; your daughter doesn't need you at her bedside constantly.""No, I'm
not available. I'm out with her and my wife right now. Look, I'll work over the weekend, anything pressing can wait just one day."
"Oh, you're out with her? Just yesterday you said she was bedridden and getting worse, to the point you were worried about moving her. What a miraculous recovery.""She
was sick. The doctor has already-"
"Oh, I understand the situation quite well. I do hate to get between you and your family, but wouldn't you prefer to spend the weekend with your daughter anyway? You don't have to call in sick if you weren't working already, after all.""..."
"So, I can expect you here within the hour?""...Yes."
"Excellent! You're a good man."The phone call ends, and your father returns. He quietly tells your mother that he has to go to work, and when she starts to protest, he defeatedly says that his boss is just making a point. He then passes her the keys, hugs you goodbye, and just...
jogs away. Apparently he's going to
run to work, without any of the things he usually takes. You get the distinct feeling that this is not how things are supposed to work.
Your mother turns to you, and lightly suggests that she should just take you home. She says you seem to have been getting bored, anyway."Wha- But I already have friends. . ." she told the air where the girl had just occupied. She really wasn't a very good liar; why would she try to push Tooru away when she obviously didn't actually want to be left alone? A crestfallen expression crossed her face for a moment as she peeked her head out of the room, trying to see where the other girl had run off to.
Look for the ashen-haired girl - but only if I have time before my next class. If not, just go to that and try to think about where she went.
You start to follow the girl as she leaves, but she seems really,
really, dedicated to get away. She stumbles as she gets to the door, and sprints away after that. You rush over, and peek your head out the door just in time to see her disappear around a corner. You probably
could chase after her, you're pretty fast and you have the time... but on the other hand, you haven't seen someone run away from something like that in awhile. Apparently you're terrifying?
The rest of your day goes by much more normally, and you mostly forget about the strange girl, instead focusing on your studies, figuring you'll probably be able to catch her during lunch. You also ask Violet to keep an eye out for an ashen haired girl with a glowing ring, which she agrees to do, though while giving you a doubting look. You point out your necklace, and say it glows in the same way, but she just seems even more confused by that.
By the time lunch ends, you're actually starting to worry. You got there somewhat late, but still before even the earliest people usually leave, and you stayed around as long as you could. No sign of the scared girl, and Violet says she hadn't seen anyone like that either. Maybe the girl skipped lunch? Wouldn't be
that unusual.
[Innocence]
Your last classes are a bit harder to focus on, because a rather disturbing thought occurs to you: Pumsy said that magical girls--which you've decided is definitely what that girl was--turn into witches when they lose hope. The ramifications of that only hit home now, because Ash (as you've begun to think of her) seemed very, very hopeless. Maybe that's why she's being so avoidant; she realizes she's going to become very dangerous, and soon, or perhaps she thinks you'll attack her pre-emptively. Maybe you
should. That's an unsettling thought.
You're still considering what to do about her by the time your last class is over. Just as you're leaving the school, you finally see the ashen-haired girl again, standing and looking lost as students walk past her. It's Friday, so Violet has volleyball practice, and your Dad will almost certainly get home late. You don't have anything pressing that you need to do right now. Then again, Ash definitely didn't seem to want anything to do with you.
((I am really enjoying Tooru and Asha interactions so far. I can't wait for them to bond, laugh and suffer together.))
Asha presumably headed for the next class, except of course if Tooru caught up to her or something else unexpected impeded her.
You rush away from the strange girl, nearly tripping in your haste to escape, and practically run to your next class. You sit down inside, along with the two other students who are as early as you, and collapse face first onto your desk. You feel... drained. She was the first person here to show an interest in you, and you had to run away from her...
Your prediction of biology being just as impossible to follow ends up being correct, so you just sit there moping for the whole class. And the class after. Lunch is a bit better, as you get there early, and so have your choice of food. That, at least, is one perk of this school; the food is
much better than the junk they serve at your current "home". You finish eating quickly, and leave before too many people crowd in.
That quick lunch leaves you with an unusually long break period before your next class, and you end up wandering outside and laying in the grass. There's nobody around, and it's a nice day outside. You spend your time looking at the clouds go by, as you consider the last two weeks of your life. You haven't seen Pumsy since you ran, but you know for sure that what he said was true. You
have changed, and found yourself to be tougher, and faster, than you used to be. He said that you would have to hunt witches, and you'd be willing to do so... but he hasn't come back, or helped you at all. Like everyone else, he's abandoned you. Maybe he thinks you wouldn't be capable...
You sigh, and get up to go to your next class; it isn't like laying around with your thoughts turned out any more pleasant. The last few classes pass quickly and painlessly--not surprising, since you're mostly ignoring them--and soon enough the day is over.
There's still some daylight left. You really have a lot of freedom, to do whatever you feel like... or you could just go home and try to sleep until tomorrow. That's always good too.
Character sheets:
((Note that these are stripped down for easy stat/power/status reference, the full sheets are in the thread's thirdpost.))
Soul Gem: Glowing with a radiant light.
Age: 14
Hair Color: Salt-stained blonde.
Health: Fine!
Totem: A fishing club.
Stats:
Bravery: Talented
Joy: Skilled
Innocence: Amateur
Purity: Amateur
Mercy: Skilled
Creativity: Cursed
Love: Cursed
Abilities:
Mobility Lvl2
Close Combat Lvl2+1
Totem Manipulation Lvl1
Berzerker Lvl2
Painless Lvl2
Effigy Lvl1
Soul Gem: Glowing with a vibrant light.
Age: 13
Hair color: Ashen
Health: Fine!
Totem: A Ribbon. The one her late sister wore.
Stats:
Bravery: Skilled
Joy: Cursed
Innocence: Cursed
Purity: Amateur
Mercy: Talented
Creativity: Amateur
Love: Skilled
Abilities:
Mobility: Level 2
Close Combat: Level 2
Totem Manipulation: Level 0 (+1)
Heal and Steel: Level 2
Soothe: Level 2
Flagellation: Level 2
Soul Gem: Glowing with a radiant light.
Age: 14.
Hair Color: Bright green.
Health: Fine!
Totem: A halberd.
Stats:
Bravery: Amateur.
Joy: Skilled!
Innocence: Amateur.
Purity: Skilled!
Mercy: Cursed ;-;
Creativity: Talented~
Love: Cursed ;-;.
Abilities:
Mobility: Level 1
Close-Combat: Level 1 (+1)
Regeneration: Level 2
Sixth Sense: Level 2
Semblance: Level 2
Projection: Level 2
Soul Gem: Glowing with a radiant light.
Age: 13
Hair Color: Bright scarlet.
Health: Fine!
Totem: Ofuda talismans, primarily thrown as manabolts.
Stats:
Bravery: Cursed
Joy: Talented
Innocence: Skilled
Purity: Amateur
Mercy: Cursed
Creativity: Amateur
Love: Skilled
Abilities:
Mobility II
Mana Bolt II (+I)
Regeneration I
Gourmand I
Outburst II
Duet with Reality II
Author
Topic: Pumsy's Seeds - A ~MAGICAL GIRL~ game inspired by PMMM (Read 140367 times)