[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.)

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[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.

[musketmagi.livejournal.com]

Defend? ( she raises an eyebrow. against what, exactly? someone else taking over her body? she'd never even thought something like that was possible until now... )

[innerflow.livejournal.com]

It's just a theory, but... It's true I've been having trouble since I was put in this body. And most people only seem naturally shocked by the changes to themselves.

[musketmagi.livejournal.com]

( she looks down... feeling a little guilty. no one... should be forced into the body of a puella magi, she thinks... ) What sort of troubles, Mizuno-san...? When did they begin?

[innerflow.livejournal.com]

It was just after you left when you came over the first time. [No, she hasn't absolutely put it together yet. But they're so very close.]

[musketmagi.livejournal.com]

( she looks down, focusing on the soul gem in her hands ) I've never... experienced a problem like that before. ( but there's a cold chill running down her spine for some reason... )

[innerflow.livejournal.com]

I see. Then it's something we'll have to investigate further in order to understand it.

[musketmagi.livejournal.com]

What... did it feel like?

[innerflow.livejournal.com]

[She supposes a true answer is necessary if they're going to make progress.]

Like... nothing. I don't remember fainting at all. And then suddenly... I was conscious.

[musketmagi.livejournal.com]

( she's not too fond of the idea of experimentation while someone else is in her body suffering the consequences... but whatever's going on here is definitely a matter that needs to be settled... ) Mizuno-san... ( she holds out her hands, indicating the egg-shaped jewel she carries -- ) take this.

[innerflow.livejournal.com]

Eh? But Tomoe-san, this is very important to you. I can't keep it from you!

[musketmagi.livejournal.com]

You're right, but... Since I made the contract, I've never been separated from the Soul Gem...

[innerflow.livejournal.com]

[Too quickly for comfort, her mind flies across the next steps.]

Then... could it be you think this reaction relates to the soul gem?

[musketmagi.livejournal.com]

( she doesn't necessairily like it, but... ) Unfortunately there is only one way to find out.

[innerflow.livejournal.com]

This is going to sound silly... It's just a fainting spell... but...


I don't know if I can go through it again. It feels so strange... Unsettling, somehow.

[musketmagi.livejournal.com]

( she pauses for a moment... and then smiles sadly... taking the other girls hand, she places the soul gem inside, and closes her fingers around it gently ) That's why... we need to ensure that it won't happen again. I'm sorry, Ami-chan... ( even though she's already said it... ) That you have to be trapped in the body of a puella magi such as mine...

[innerflow.livejournal.com]

Please don't apologize. Talking in circles won't find a solution; and besides, the one to blame is whatever is causing these switches. That isn't your fault. And we don't know if it's any fault like that, either.

[musketmagi.livejournal.com]

Then... let's try again, shall we? I'll keep the communicator on this time when I leave... that way, if anything happens...