[009] ☿ Our bodies are just containers for our powers

[innerflow.livejournal.com]

[It's Tomoe Mami's face, but it's entirely Mizuno Ami's heavy heart that picks up the communicator. It's taken a long time to make herself look almost normal, to make herself look like she hasn't been crying and like she can handle this.

But the hope that's kept her going just disappeared along with Usagi and her other friends. She can't even know when she'll see them again, if she'll see them again, or if they're truly lost to the Darkness until their world can be restored - perhaps never. Three dear friends at once, so close after a fourth, is a terrible blow. Her voice is steady but far too quiet and thin.]

To everyone who knew them, Tsukino Usagi, Hino Rei, and Aino Minako have disappeared.

Naru-chan, we-

[But right there, without any warning, her voice simply stops. She slumps to the floor without any sign of distress of beforehand.]

(ooc: MADOKA SPOILER/explanation: With the body swap, Mami-in-Ami's-body came to pick up the soul gem... thus bringing it too far away for Mami's body (Ami). She will revive once Mami comes back, bringing it close again, and they figure it out.)

Comments

[innerflow.livejournal.com]

I feel fine.

[Physically, at least. Bizarrely, it's true. She simply was not, and now she is. There hadn't been any particular pain, and she's at a loss, too.]

Tomoe-san, did you come back here to check on me? I'm sorry for troubling you.

[musketmagi.livejournal.com]

( she doesn't shake this expression of worry... and simply shakes her head at the words ) I... should be the one who is sorry... I'm sorry for burdening you with... all of this. Being forced into the body of a Puella Magi...

[innerflow.livejournal.com]

Tomoe-san, please. Whatever happened isn't your fault. Something else has been manipulating all of our bodies, not just yours and mine.

[musketmagi.livejournal.com]

Still, I... ( can't help but feel guilty... ) You said -- your friends had disappeared...?

[innerflow.livejournal.com]

Yes. I'm... certain it isn't a result of this. [She's checked and double checked and triple checked. Whatever body they were in, they'd answer her.

... She hopes.]

[musketmagi.livejournal.com]

( she lowers her head ) I'm sorry. That they've gone, I mean. It must be very stressful for you... ( maybe thats why you passed out... )

[innerflow.livejournal.com]

[Y-yeah... that must be it...]

Usagi-chan was our hope. I'm not sure what will happen next.

[She doesn't have the confidence they can defeat the Darkness, without Usagi.]

[musketmagi.livejournal.com]

( she's quiet for a moment... and then takes one of your hands in hers -- er, hers in yours... y-you know what i mean... ) They're your precious friends, aren't they? ... If the worlds can be restored, then there is a good chance they will survive...

[innerflow.livejournal.com]

They're my precious friends. [And now she has to mourn them as lost.]

Some of us are still here together. [She struggles to find at least a little bit to hope from.]

[musketmagi.livejournal.com]

... I know that things may seem bleak, Mizuno-san, but... ( what can she say? she's not really one for false hopes but... it's hard to see a friend in such a sorry state... ) You must continue on.

[innerflow.livejournal.com]

I know. For everyone's sake who's still here, I need to keep working towards our solution.

[musketmagi.livejournal.com]

( of course... there's something else about the situation that she's concerned about... after seeing this -- ) Mizuno-san... Are you sure you'll be all right?

[innerflow.livejournal.com]

Please don't be concerned. I just felt... [She can't quite say she felt faint for a moment, because she hadn't felt anything.]

I seem to feel better now. [That much, at least, is true.]

[musketmagi.livejournal.com]

All right, if you're sure. ... I should get ready for my shift at the café. I'll be sure to check in on you on my way home.

[innerflow.livejournal.com]

Please don't go out of your way. I'm sure it's nothing. Just the shock of the different bodies. Everyone is experiencing it right now.

[musketmagi.livejournal.com]

( she smiles. she's not going to take no for an answer, basically. besides, she's got a sinking suspicion this might have something to do with the soul gem... she hadn't fought any heartless recently now that she was in ami's body... perhaps it was growing dark... absently, she fingers the ring she's put on her current ring finger )

I will see you in a few hours. ( and she turns to leave, putting her shoes on and opening the door, turning back once more to flash a quick smile at ami on the other side of the space... )

[innerflow.livejournal.com]

[It's not like she'll refuse company. Ami nods slightly, with a tight smile at that very conflict between warming to the other girl's concern and not wanting to ask for too much.]

I'll see you later, then. [She'll make up for it by making something for a snack they can both share.]

[musketmagi.livejournal.com]

( and with that -- she closes the door behind her. pausing for a moment to contemplate the situation again... and breathes a sad sigh as she makes her way towards the bay... )

[innerflow.livejournal.com]

[By the time Mami's gone a bit of distance away... There's a sudden nothingness, and Ami slumps right to the floor again.]

[musketmagi.livejournal.com]

( there's a twinge of something. a tingle. something... isn't right. her eyes immediately go to the ring again, this time allowing the soul gem to take shape in the palm of her -- ami's -- hand. it doesn't seem to be considerably tainted... and the dimming certainly had slowed since arriving here, but...

as she casts her gaze back towards ami's direction... the nagging feeling just won't go away. she debates with herself for a few more moments -- before breaking into a sprint and heading back, clutching the gem tightly in her hand )

[innerflow.livejournal.com]

[She doesn't struggle to consciousness when Mami comes back; that would imply something gradual and natural. Instead, as soon as Mami is close again, Ami simply is again, in a chillingly disconcerting sensation that runs through her body.]

Mami... chan? I think it happened again, just when you left...

[musketmagi.livejournal.com]

( and here she is again, rushing to your side, putting her free hand behind your back -- ) Mizuno-san! ... This --this isn't right there's something else at work here! You were fine all this time. Up until... ( what happened? did something else change? aside from the shock of the girl's friends disappearing... )

[innerflow.livejournal.com]

I... [But it's harder to keep insisting she's fine when she's getting worried herself, now.]

I don't know. [It comes out quietly; it's something she hates being forced to admit.] I felt alright until just after you left.

[musketmagi.livejournal.com]

( time to come clean... mami looks down, focusing again on the gem... ) At first -- I thought maybe it had something to do with the Soul Gem... But -- it's light is still fairly bright.

[innerflow.livejournal.com]

The soul gem...?

[She considers this with the part of her mind that can remain detached from her own worries and the cold feeling down her spine.]

But, it makes sense. If it's a part of this body. It could be affecting it somehow. Perhaps... a way to defend you against this sort of spell.