Test Drive Meme

[soulmods]

Test Drive Meme

Prompts Arrival: So you've just arrived in Nyoi-Cho. Congratulations! You must be so excited about having your wish granted. Or maybe you're upset that the result wasn't quite what you expected? If that's the case, then that's too bad! There are no take backs and no redoes, so you're stuck with what you have! Maybe you should have been more careful about how you worded that wish... Oh well. There's no use in dwelling on it. You're a magi now, and that means adjusting to a whole new lifestyle! Maybe one of the townspeople can help you out. Only... they're acting a bit strangely, aren't they? They're all too happy to show you around, but there's something unsettling about the way they're behaving. Almost cheerfully dissonant. Any questions about the history of the town are met with blank stares and brief silence, before they plaster a smile onto their faces and change the subject. Any attempts to tell them about your duties as a magi or anything else that relates to the magical will get similar reactions. Isn't there anyone normal here that you can talk to at all? Home Improvement: The houses that the magi are given access to really are something, aren't they? There's almost no limit to what they can do! Why don't you create the house of your dreams, or maybe recreate and relive your favorite childhood scenes? Invite some spectators over to marvel! A Corrupted Soul Gem: You neglected to take care of your soul gem, and now you don't feel quite yourself anymore. You feel like you're losing your sense of self - all you seem to be able to focus on is your old regrets and past failures. What's happening to you? A Successful Mission: Congratulations! You met up with your first Witch, and you fought valiantly. For your efforts, you've been awarded a grief seed - and with it, access to a brand new power! What sort of power did you get? Is it a useful one, or is it not so useful? Maybe you've mastered it beautifully, and now you're showing off to all of your friends. Maybe you're having a hard time keeping it under wraps, and now you're wreaking havoc across the town without meaning to! A Dreadful Nightmare: You had an absolutely horrid day. As you drift off to sleep, your mind dwells on all the injustices you've had to endure. In response, your bed swallows you up, and your room shifts into a horrific Nightmarescape. What sort of Nightmare are you? What kind of Nightmarescape do you create? Hopefully your fellow magi can stop you before you cause too much damage! Wildcard: Feel free to use any information from the FAQ or the World Info page to make your own prompt!

Comments

[justoutrunyou]

[It's a little different then the Homura she knew then, but now was time for the big test. No matter what the answer the truth would have to come out after this...but was it a good idea? Maybe she should keep this secret in her pocket in case it would come in handy...

...no. No she's disgusted with herself for even thinking that. Homura saved her life in her own way. She deserved the truth.]

Have you um...have you seen Madoka yet? Is she here?

[unbraid]

[ Homura stiffens right up. It's immediate and more obvious than she'd have liked it to be. She's not sure how she'd know who Madoka is-- she's never seen her around her, and there's all that about Panem, and... she hasn't been anything but polite, but Homura wonders if it's some kind of threat. She's so used to being the irregularity that someone knowing something she doesn't sets her off.

So her response is terse; the softness of her tone has completely dropped. ]

I've never met you, so I assume you met her in Panem. Did she tell you about me? How did you recognize me?

[justoutrunyou]

[ Well that went better then expected at least, then again Sandy's gotten into a habit of expecting the worst]

Actually, I met you. The people forcing us to fight in Panem were playing movies on a big screen, and one was all about you and Madoka. You were upset that they had all that information and were just sharing it with everyone.

[ Of course not nearly as upset as she'd gotten later]

I sat with you for awhile, we talked. You gave me some really good advice and when we met up later you taught me how to make bombs.

[unbraid]

[ It's unbelievable, but no matter how horrified she feels about it, she buys it. Not remembering any of this, the movie... she wants to ask what it covered, but finds that she's too embarrassed. This girl doesn't seem to think it's weird at least. She's still friendly, even. Homura would've thought herself beyond feeling ashamed at this point, after everything, but-- she's really not. Shame is as potent as ever and knowing a complete stranger might know all her mistakes and failures and secrets is still enough to shake her.

Her fists slowly clench, and Homura tenses further. ]

... I don't remember any of this, but I don't sense that you're lying. Yes, Madoka is here. But don't approach her with any information you might have gotten off of the movie. She shouldn't be burdened by what I've done or how I feel.

Will you listen?

[justoutrunyou]

[ Sandy nodded without hesitation]

Of course. I don't know if the you I met thought of me as a friend...but I respect you and want to be one so this can be between us.

[ Some secrets were too heavy for some people]

[unbraid]

[ Friends? Maybe. Homura isn't sure how to feel about it, but she nods, grateful. ]

You know who I am, but I don't know who you are. What's your name?

[justoutrunyou]

[ Her cheeks go red when she realizes she hadn't introduced herself.]

Cassandra Marko, but you can call me Sandy.

We met in the arena, we were supposed to kill each other but you didn't attack me, I didn't attack you and we just...sat and talked.

I grew up in New York City, in America. Before being stolen away to Panem though I'd never left the city.

[unbraid]

[ It sounds like a surreal experience to meet in such perilous circumstance and just have a chat. Homura can imagine it all too well. She exhales, inhales, and relaxes. ]

I never left Tokyo until... [ When? When time comes into the equation, she's not sure where to begin. ] ...a relatively short time ago. I don't miss the big city.

[ Mitakihara was her home now. ]

What is America like? I haven't heard much about it from Madoka.

[justoutrunyou]

[its strange to be nostalgic for a terrible place, but after seeing how dark the universe can be, Sandy misses her crappy home]

Cold, wet. I lived in the run down part of the biggest city in America. My dad used to tell me it was a beautiful city with strength and personality. A place full of heroes who would stand up for those weaker then them. People with amazing powers that stood for justice.

By the time I was old enough to find out I had powers too though the city had gotten scared of people who were different. The cut themselves off from the world and had strict, unfair rules. They said it was for our safety, but it was so they could stay in power.

[A heavy sigh]

Kinda wish I had more cheerful things to share but...well it was better then Panem.

[unbraid]

[ Homura listens, attention caught on a certain specific thing. She doesn't mind it being dreary-- she already knows about her, and none of that is very pleasant either. And anywhere sounds better than Panem. But she says none of these things, instead going for a question. ]

Powers? ... You said you weren't able to study magic. Is that what you mean?

[justoutrunyou]

Well...not magic. Not exactly.

[She realized that she hadn't tried to use her power since she arrived. Was it back again?]

It's more science...genetics, a mutation in human bodies allowing amazing things...or at the very least interesting things.

[she decides to try it, and the power comes from her soul gem instead of her genetics. Her skin, hair and clothes all stiffen and turn grey. Hardening until she looks like a statue of pure concrete. But she breathes and blinks in an almost unsettling fashion. ]

My father got powers from an experiment gone wrong. Then he passed a power onto me see?

[unbraid]

[ It is unsettling, but Homura doesn't outwardly flinch. She just tilts her head, looking at her curiously. ]

A mutation, then. And this sort of thing is commonplace at home?

[justoutrunyou]

Well it used to be before they locked up all the super powered people.

[She shifts back in a similar fashion]

There was magic in my world too but in the end it all just came down to people with powers and people without. And the people without got scared and locked up or killed all the people with powers that were foolish enough to get caught.

I kept my powers secret...but I wasn't smart enough to stay out of trouble. I was always sneaking out after curfew, spray painting stuff on walls. And whenever the cops would show up...well I'd let whoever I was with get caught so I could get away.

[She sounds disgusted with herself at that]

I was a coward, and maybe sometimes I still am even after all the crazy stuff I've done since then. My wish was to escape and that meant leaving behind everyone I cared about in Panem.