Scene #2860: Swarm The Museum Curator Take 1

Owner	Pose
Mamoru Chiba	A cold night, windy but not wicked: it's after-hours at the museum -- Mamoru told everyone they could come in henshin or out, and he was ''very sure'' to explain that she's only one person and one person can't answer twenty-five questions at a time, please be gentle-- Which meant he also had to say, "She did say you all don't have to be gentle but ''I know us''," and he laughs, now, opening the door and explaining to the security guard that they're there to see Curator Siddig, she's expecting them, they'll be happy to wait here in the lobby... Mamoru himself is not in henshin; he's just his fluffy-haired bespectacled skinny-jeans-and-leather-jacket normal student self, hands in his pockets, rocking on his heels and looking past the front desk to the exhibit. "Did you bring it?" he finally thinks to ask Rashmi in a low voice, looking stricken.
Hinote Kagari	Hinote Kagari comes out of henshin. As cool as it'd be to wear the Smooth Criminal drip and give her a show, he also doesn't wanna ruin potential trust. Tracy, who is with Hinote, is displeased with this and voicing his displeasure. "Come on it--" "She might be able to see you." Hinote suddenly offers. "So I want you to be on your best. behavior. Tracy." he says, eyes full of fire. Tracy suddenly backs off and woahs. "W-woah okay I'll behave I'll behave, sheesh, kid!" says Tracy as Tracy floats back over Hinote's shoulder. He'll arrive with the group and places his hands to his side, hooking thumbs into his pockets. "If she wants us to henshin. Just to see. I can do that." he says. "But I didn't wanna spoil trust off the bat by coming in disguise." he offers.
Rashmi Terios	"Don't worry," Rashmi murmurs back; for herself, she elected to come in henshin... largely because of the image of the Devicer she remembers on one of the exhibits. Rashmi can't really help but want to see if the design motifs'll be recognized, and if so what the reaction may be. "I brought it and an 'I'm sorry' gift; a dozen of Papi's assorted sandesh." Because of course she brought snacks. Tracy's antics, as ever, cannot help but bring a smile to the Devicer's lips, and Rashmi simply waits patiently to be told to enter, chuckling to herself.
Amy Faust	Amy Faust is feeling a little off today but like hell is she missing this chance. And if Mamoru trusts miss Maryim, she, too, will come out of henshin, in a winter coat worn over her uniform blouse and skirt worn over leggings. It ''is'' winter after all. She grimaces at the reminded not to ask twenty-five questions at once: Mamoru certainly knows her, after all. "Brought what? What are we sorry for? Oh for the questions." She nods. And looks around expectantly, wondering what this mysterious magic-aware person could be like. "She's been reaching out to us all this time... I guess it's not like she could say 'magical girls, contact me', we'd think she was some rando on the internet doing a bit..."
KeyLimePie	The security guard for the Art Museum @ Pikarigaoka's front had been willing to let them in after a quick radio - he'd walked them up to the exhibit's front desk himself, explained the general rules about touching, liquids, and food (namely, that all are banned), and then made distance, waiting for the curator to arrive. This is because Maryam had called ahead on their behalf, partially for the sake of the young heroes, and partially for the sake of the security guards, who had become friends of hers, after her many late nights in the office. These young heroes would certainly be able to get past them, and they didn't need that blow to their confidence! The result is that the waiting quartet are gathered together when from within the exhibit sweeps the curator herself, a tall woman of around 40, with her long dark hair pulled up in a high ponytail, dark eyes with smile lines in their corners. She's wearing a black shirt and pants under a maroon blazer that brings out the warmth in her warm skin, a silver necklace and matching silver earrings, with a neat, professional appearance, and an excited gleam in her eyes. "Chiba-san," she greets, "I remember you! Isn't that exciting?" This might not seem so exciting to the rest, but he'll get it! "And my, it's wonderful to meet you all, as well," she greens the rest of them, offering a polite now. Her Japanese is accented, some of the vowels and consonants hitting with a different intonation than they would from a native speaker. "My name is Maryam Siddig, curator of this exhibit. I'm very, very excited to finally meet you all, though, I'm afraid I'm not sure who you all are, aside from Chiba-san's friends and allies."
Hinote Kagari	Hinote Kagari waits and soon, the Curator arrives. He smiles. Oh she's excited. Maybe he SHOULD had come in henshin? Now he feels a little bad about that, but he continues on. "Hello, Siddig-san. I am Hinote Kagari. Can you... see the fairy over my shoulder?" he asks. Tracy is there floating, who winks and throws a finger gun at Maryam. "Heya, Dollface!" he says. Hinote Kagari winces. "Anyways that's.. Tracy. He's my. Guardian Chara." he says. "You wanted to meet us. So I came. I am, a...Detective! So I have questions of course." "How do you.... know? About us? I mean. Mahou." he asks curiously. "I mean we all have questions- I'm sure. We're trying not to. Overload you." he smiles a little.
Mamoru Chiba	When Maryam says she remembers him, Mamoru's face breaks out in a huge slow sunshine bloom of a smile. "That's wonderful, Siddig-san!" he says, warm and bright and ''very'' happy; he bows politely in greeting. "We weren't sure if she would," he explains to everyone else, "since we met while I was transformed. These are all friends and allies of mine!" he finishes as he turns back to Maryam. Hinote introduces himself and Tracy, and Mamoru asks, "Can we record voice? ...if so," now he's grinning, "Rashmi-san, can Nicomachea record?"
Rashmi Terios	"It's a real pleasure to meet you, Siddig-sensei," Rashmi says after Hinote makes his introduction. "I'm Rashmi Terios, and this--" she hefts the huge armored, techy tome in her arms. "--is Nicomachea, my Device. And he can, Mamo-san! If nobody minds, of course... When we're done I can even put it on a thumbdrive for Siddig-sensei to have." Hinote asked a very good question, and one that Rashmi is intensely curious about... So she'll hold her own question for later, save one. "Also I have to imagine you've got questions too!"
Amy Faust	Amy's started to imagine an anxious, awkward, mousy woman, gaslit repeatedly by the world that magic is not real when she knows it is. Seeming crazy and eccentric to others all her life would surely take a heavy toll... Instead, it's a tall, confident- and professional-looking woman that makes Amy simultaneously wonder 'what has this been like for her, what has she gone through' and 'would that be a good outfit for me when I'm older?' Chiba-san, I remember you! Isn't that exciting? Amy can infer the meaning: He revealed his henshin last time and ''she remembers.'' 'It should've been you...' Amy mutters as a thought crosses her mind, and then puts on a smile, buoyed by being genuinely excited to meet a new person in this situation that can remember magic and wants to help, to boot! "I'm excited to meet you, too! Amanda Faust, Puella Magi, pleased to meet you!" She bows lightly, and then offers her hand to shake, noticing that Ms. Siddig is a foreigner, too. Hinote asks some obvious questions, so Amy tries to hold back for a moment, so as not to overwhelm.
KeyLimePie	There's ''something'' over one of the children's shoulder, something that the faintest pressure says cannot be but which Maryam ''knows'' about, a part of her eagerly wondering if it would be like the small creatures in the ancient papyrus, or the statue of Alexander, or the many depictions of Jeanne d'Arc, and then, the boy introduces himself, Hinote Kagari, and he asks if she can see - "I ''can''," she gasps, and there is a distinct, child-like glee in the breathed words as she sees the small fairy being. He calls her dollface, and there's a look on her face that is far from nonchalant - no, she is distinctly chalant, to the point that it might be amusing. "I can hear you, too, Tracy-san. And so you're a ''detective''! How fascinating. And Tracy is your guide?" She does, clearly, have questions, though she is quick to try not to focus too heavily on any one person. "Terios-san, and Nicomachea-san," she pronounces his name correctly and well on the first try, someone used to speaking many tongues and balancing them. "What a lovely form you have, if that isn't rude to say. I'm simply partial to books, it's a habit of being an academic and of course, I would appreciate a recording though - I would recommend that you blur your names. I have no intention of every trading your secrecy or trust, but I would feel better knowing that I ''could'' not, either." She's very serious as she says this, though there is still an audible, obvious delight. "Faust-san, a pleasure as well, and - yes, Kagari-san, you have asked a very fair question. I know of you because I was raised to know of you. This exhibit, gathered here to share with you, may be ''my'' work, but the gathering of these artifacts and objects has taken place for far longer than my life. I am but one of the latest generation of those who have known of the underlying magical nature of the world... even if we don't possess it. Even if, in many cases such as mine, we do not possess the weight of magic ourselves." This is, perhaps vague, and she realizes that, the expression on her face changing, and she exhales. "My family, and some others, belong to a group of loose affiliations and many common goals, and we call ourselves Candidus Cordis. In Latin, it means bright-hearted, or alternatively... radiant heart."
Hinote Kagari	Tracy has! "You can see me! Pretty keen. Yeah I'm Hinote's guide! His partner!" he says. Hinote wryly smiles at the excitement. "Yeah, he is. Yeah I'm a Detective. Or I wanna be one. If you see a guy in a trenchcoat, fedora, mask and suit hanging around. That's also me. Pulp Noir." he says keeping the smile. He listens to this explanation. "Oh! So you we're raised into an organization your family was a member of, that knows about the true world nature." he takes this in, adding this fact into his head. "...I haven't been to this exhibit. Can we explore a little while the museum is closed, later?" he asks. "-and. If you have questions for us, yes even Tracy. Let loose. That's only ''fair''." he says with a smile. "I'll let someone else ask the next question. I'm sure we all have at least one- Siddig-sensei. Tracy is using a magnifying glass to examine a nearby portrait, now, hovering away from Hinote, but otherwise keeping his hands to himself. (so far)
Mamoru Chiba	"And let us know," Mamoru offers almost impishly, "if you'd like us to show off our transformation sequences. You can describe what you see for the recording, right? As you're seeing it?" He stuffs his hands in his pockets, and pulls out his pocket watch, heart beating faster, grin on his face. "I mean -- I know nothing records in a way that really-- works right, but eyewitness accounts are good enough for Pompeii."
Rashmi Terios	'Radiant Heart' "...Okay well now things are starting to make sense," Rashmi says, as Maryam reveals the generations-old society, that just so happens to share a name with their school. "So... hang on, was this exhibit for our benefit? Why now, though?" Good questions, all, but feeling that a more fair exchange is needed, she clears her throat. "...Uh. Speaking of exhibits, we um... recovered the piece that was stolen a while back. Nicomachea? << BONG! >> << COMMAND INPUT EXECUTE >> chimes the book, in tech-distorted, professorial tones, and the urn rises out of the center of Nicomachea's display gem, held aloft on a circle of golden light. "We did our very best to make sure we didn't damage it, but... the magic was taken out of it. ...Apparently it was like a memory storage, for teaching?"
Mamoru Chiba	"It wasn't me," says Mamoru immediately after Rashmi explains about the urn.
Amy Faust	Amy smiles at Siddig-san's interactions with all of them. She remembers finding out that ''MAGIC IS REAL'' after longing for it for so long, and getting to ''see'' it after having only stories for so long... although Siddig-san's stories were no doubt far more accurate. She nods in serious agreement at the concern for opsec. Amanda listens to the explanation, wondering if there ''is'' something about latin that's made Kyubey and the Candidus Cordis choose it to name something magical... but while she's working out the translation, Maryam just says it, and Amy sighs. But she's grinning. "Wow. So this is... thus the school. Thus gathering magical individuals there. Thus me getting an invitation when it should've been impossible for anyone but Kyubey to know where I was..." Amy furrows her brow, "Wait, how did ''that'' work... But perhaps that's the Principal's secret, not yours." Amy smiles again. "If you have questions, please, do ask! I ''love'' expositing!" "And I'd be happy to show off my henshin sequence, too."
KeyLimePie	A guide, a partner, helping Kagari-san to be who he wished to be - oh it's ''so'' much like the details shared in some of her works that she has a thousand, million questions, but - truthfully? "You've got that correct, and well, I could ask you questions all night," she admits, "There are so many artifacts here, and yes - yes I would ''love'' to show you through the exhibit, to share with you my theories, we're quite confident that many of these reflect accurate figures, or at least ''beliefs'' about figures, though of course, the truth of art is that it is subjective, and anthropological analysis of art is plagued by biased beliefs ''about'' not only art but culture itself, and - ah, no, my apologies, I ''would'' lecture you all if I kept on." She's not embarrassed, but self-aware. Rashmi asks the next question, and she is quick to assert, "Yes, it is. It ''was''. As for why now - the Crystal Heart, among many things. I believe Headmistress Hanasaki of your school may have shared but, the offering of the Crystal Heart was - a great sacrifice, for us. All of us, who held a portion of it. Not so great a sacrifice as that which you all make, though, which is why we agreed to give up, to protect the school that has been Candidus Cordis' greatest gambit of the century. "For you all, we believed it would create a place of ''safety'', where the powers of your enemy would be reduced. For us... it ''ensured'' our memory, enabled us to hold fast to what we already had been raised to believe. Helped to inoculate us against the disbelief of the wider world, in many ways. None of us knew what would happen to us, if we surrendered it... but we knew what would happen to you. The Headmistress made sure that we knew what the lack of that potential security was doing to you all." Maryam looks off, thinking of those conversations, those hard realities. "I began working with my museum partners then, to bring about this exhibit. If we began to forget - if ''I'' began to forget - then I wanted there to be a chance that you all would be able to connect the dots, if the puzzle pieces were brought to you. I'm very, very relieved to have confirmed that our sincerest beliefs have been enough for us, but... I'm much more glad to have reached you all." And then there is news of a robbery, and she says, "One of them was stolen?!" Riventon ''had'' replaced it with a false copy, identical save for being magic-less. Magic was useful that way. She looks at the artifact carefully, and pulls from the pocket of her blazer - gloves. Professional and careful, and she pulls them on before taking hold of the artifact carefully. "The Jar of Memories... it contained ''magic''? Truly?" Ironic, that they never knew. "It's an ancient artifact - truly ancient, though it drifted with the Roman empire, traveling along the path of their conquests, appearing and disappearing throughout eras... no wonder, if there was magic involved." She smiles, wryly. "I would love to see your transformations - and I would love to continue answering your questions, as I create a ''stockpile'' of my own, including just what is a Puella Magi, exactly? I can gather the literal meaning, but I can only assume you mean something ''unique''?"
Hinote Kagari	Hinote Kagari nods and looks over to Tracy. "Come over here, Tracy. Let's go." he says. Tracy gasps. "We're gonna do it!?" he says zipping over. "Yeah she wants to see..." he says as he looks back to Maryam. "Right here we go." he says. He says putting his hands out in front of him, and makes a motion with two fingers like he's unlocking a lock. "My Heart, UNLOCK!" he calls out. Tracy poses with arms crossed, pulling his fedora down as he enters his egg and he and Hinote merge, the egg floating into his chest as he gains the suit... whipping around and onto him, the coat, and a fedora spinning into existence overhead , all to jazzy undertones (somehow!?) and finally he grabs a mask from the trenchcoat and slips it it on, with a wink as he calls out. "Pulp Noir!" he says.A The transformation ends and he's there, drawing his fedora up a moment with a smile. "Tracy's in here with me." he says, patting his chest. "We kinda merge when we transform." he says, explaining. He'll let Amy explain what a Puella Magi is. That's her question to field. He looks over to Mamoru. "Joining in?" he asks.
Rashmi Terios	A great sacrifice... A complicated expression passes over Rashmi's face. The idea that their safety, their sanctuary, is provided at the cost of gambling with the memories of countless, unknown people is an extremely bitter pill to swallow, and one she'll likely be digesting for some time. But then Hinote is Chara-changing, and once again the very nature of Chara make holding onto bad feelings just impossible. "I'm also pleased to tell you that the security is very, very real, and has saved a lot of lives, so... Thank you, Siddig-sensei." A thought strikes the Devicer, and she extracts another box from Nicomachea; this one, a green bakery-style box, bearing the mascot and logo of the Korma Chameleon. "Speaking of... these were partially apology sweets, but also to thank you for meeting us; sandesh, from my family's restaurant." This box, handed over with a smile. "Because I know this meeting means a lot to you, but... we have so much to thank you for, too." With the last obligation met, she looks around the museum for a moment, pursing her lips. "...Also, Siddig-sensei um... That big urn, the one from Venice? With the lady with the tiara on it? Do you... happen to know any more about it than that? Because it caught my eye, for reasons I'd be really happy to explain."
Amy Faust	Amy sucks air in through her teeth when she learns what the Crystal Heart ''means'', what having its protection means they gave up. "I'm sorry, I didn't realize... but without it, we'd be doing considerably worse." She makes a mental note to ask Madoka if some of the other-timeline memories lacked the Crystal Heart. "So," the redhead smiles awkwardly. "I think it was the right call, with the... surge in magic there apparently has been recently, if Darkness wins, you may not get another chance." Although, Maryam does assure them that the Candidus Cordis's memories are intact, Amy notices she does ''not'' say that there will be any more generations after those that already exist. Her eyes widen at learning the Curator had not been able to tell the magic item was gone. "I think I heard it might be a way to... store the memories, of past mahoujin, to teach us in the future..." Siddig-san would love to see transformations, and Amy smiles, standing with legs braced and swinging her right hand towards her ring-- When something else is said that shocks her, and stops her from changing. "YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT KYUBEY?!" "...But, but... Cleopatra! And one of the versions of Jeanne of Arc--" Amy winces at an awkward memory, "--and the Faberge egg with the Witch inside it!" Amy flips her left hand palm up, her ring disappearing as she's suddenly holding the soul gem's 'egg' form. She then wraps her fingers around it and lets out a breath and leans back against the wall if there is one nearby, holding her right hand to her forehead. "Oh my gosh... of course, why would you... if he's figured out there are non-magic people that can see magic, he'd avoid them... Unless some of you turned out to be able to Contract with him..." Amy sighs. "And most of us probably didn't live very long until now... So we probably ''especially'' would never have run into any of you, ''especially'' if he knows." She takes a deep breath, then lets it out. "Whoo boy, where do I begin..." "...''have'', by chance, members of your organization ever seen a little white cat-fox thing in the wake of disasters? Maybe thought it was some kind of spirit or strange minor youma? He's actually looking for... people who will make a wish in a hurry without having time to ask questions..."
Mamoru Chiba	"Heck yes I am," Mamoru laughs when Pulp Noir asks him if he's joining in. He holds out his pocket watch for Maryam to see, saying, "No idea why this is my henshin item, truly -- I don't know which of my parents it belonged to, but it certainly wasn't a henshin item ''last'' time around; the Veil didn't exist yet." He holds the pocket watch high in the air, then, and calls, "Earth Crystal Power, Make Up!" It's a full sequence this time, not that transformation between different flavors of his own magic that Maryam saw the other night: he's a dark-colors and shadows and jewels gleaming from the darkness henshin, black and red ribbons snapping into place around his moving-lights-and-shadows silhouette. There's a final flare of his cape, tossed back over his shoulder, and he tosses his hair as well, mask appearing on his face last, like it's materializing out of moonbeams. "My wife's is much prettier than mine," he asserts. "So are literally all the other Sailor Senshi's. ''Dazzling.''" Then he glances in Rashmi's direction, and looks back at Maryam, and he looks-- not apologetic, but grateful. "Thank you-- so much, ''so'' much, for that sacrifice. I'm so sorry. But I was the ''last'' student kidnapped out of their dorm room, so I can tell you how much it's appreciated."
KeyLimePie	"It is what it is," she says gently, in response to some of those almost guilty looks. We made our choice - and it didn't end badly for us!" Maryam is ''not'' a school girl anymore - she's far from it, having finished secondary, post-secondary, graduate, and doctoral studies in her chosen field long ago. And yet, she certainly feels as ''giddy'' as one, watching the transformations which take place. First is Kagari-san's, Tracy returning to an egg that calls to mind both 'A Family Luncheon' and 'A Glorious Excess of Talent', before ''transforming'', and she sways a little to the jazzy undertone before asking herself under her breath, "Now where did that music come from..." before she snaps out of it and applauds, without condescension. "Incredible! You truly become one, a dream-like, idealized ego aligned with your true self to create a vision of who you could be - a detective, as your wished!" Oh she wants to take notes so badly, and anyone can tell. Apology treats are offered, sandesh in a box with a familiar logo, "Ah, yes, Korma! Many of my coworkers love this restaurant, and I admit I enjoy it as well. It's your family's restaurant? My, a small world indeed, I've been there a number of times. Never had the sandesh though, so I'm ''delighted''." Next is Chiba-san, and this transformation is very different from the other, a full technicolor affair, light and shadow and figure covered in ribbons which snap into ''fabric'' and it's brilliant, reminding her of 'The Interplay of Impossible Shadows' and 'Girl With the Ribbon Dress', both of which she is now certain do, in fact portray magical transformations as witnessed by the author, something she could only theorize before. "Yes, I can see why you would need to assert you weren't the thief," she informs Mamoru, smiling. She is not acknowledging 'wife' right now, she acknowledged it last night in her apartment with a glass of wine as she processed that a baby-faced child was married. She does process - "How much prettier, would you say? Could you describe it - no, not now, later though, I will certainly ask later-" There's a question about a piece from Venice Terios-san, and she perks up, "Ah, the urn depicting Leaena Effrenata? Her true name has been lost to history, but she was influential in the failed Siege of Venice, and remains in some circles an iconic figure of the 9th Century, representing Venice's indominatable spirit - some believe her nickname, Leaena Effrenata, influenced the choice of 'La Tigre' as the national name of Caterina Sforza!" She did say she was an academic. She's an ''extroverted'' academic, and this might have carried on, but as Faust-san is preparing to show off her own transformation, something seems to register with her, and - "K-kyubey?" Maryam is thrown off, startled by the shout, though not seeming ''frightened''. Just unprepared to have train of thought derailed by volume and surprise and words. "I'm afraid I am not aware of - well, yes!" She perks up again. "The Statue of Cleopatra, 'La tragédie de Jeanne d'Arc', and 'The Hunt'! They are connected, we knew, but the type of warrior they represent is called a 'Puella Magi'?" She looks at the egg, peering closely, and she does not squeal because again, she is not a school girl, but oh she wishes she had some of her tools right now! "''Fascinating''. You have to understand, that many of us have not seen magic - outside of the Crystal Heart, or rare encounters - in all our lives. This.. fox-like spirit, Kyubey, they you speak of, I'm afraid we have not encountered him, or at least, ''I'' was not informed of him. Much of what we know, we have learned from afar, and from conserved histories. It is not an easy thing, to track a mahoujin, particularly with - well, with The Phenomenon that occurs, when you reach a certain age."
Hinote Kagari	Pulp Noir grins as he drags his fedora down with a tip. "You understand." he says. "Good." he says. "I'm glad. It's nice to not need to explain these things. Tuxedo Mask's is a different kind of mahoujin, so his is different." he says, motioning a finger. "As for the music? I dunno. It happens. Familiar with Noir cinema? Jazz." he snaps. He then frowns. "I'm sorry you we're so worried about us. That you had to give up something important of yourselves. We're better now for it. Thank you." he says more sternly and gravely. Then he frowns. "There's a Witch in here?...is it. Contained in the egg?" he asks, a little worried. "Witches are.. Amy's thing here to explain. But. I dislike them a great deal." he says. He nods. "You mean the Fade. Right?" he asks.
Rashmi Terios	"Yeah, the Fade's what we call it," Rashmi confirms, pleased that her family's restaurant is already a fondly known quantity amongst so many good people. "And it's worse than you might think; see... Devices are, basically, alien magical techology. A while back, a starship from that civilization ended up in Earth orbit, tracking some really, really dangerous artifacts. But something about Earth caused the ship to kind of... rip itself apart. Like an explosion, throwing shrapnel backward and forward in time. All the crew survived... but the only one to retain his memory of... almost anything, really... was the one crewmember young enough to be enrolled at the Academy." Drawing in a deep breath, Rashmi shakes her head. "So not even being from somewhere else can really protect you; if you have magic, the Fade is a problem." At Pulp Noir's worry, Rashmi chuckles. "It's not an actual Witch, Noir... just the best reproduction a very talented clockwork artist could manage."
Amy Faust	There's a Witch in there? Amy blinks. "Oh, no, it's just a sculpture. Something that ''looks'' like it could be a Witch, hatching from a fancy egg reminiscent of the shape of a soul gem." She wants to take notes, so clearly... After asking if the Candidus Cordis had perhaps seen Kyubey but come to the same conclusion as Taro did, Amy listens, and nods, and pulls from her bag some loose papers and a uniball griproller, holding them out with a smile. "It's easy to fall out of the habit of keeping writing tools with you at all times after you get your degree, huh? Especially in the digital age." she notes, conversationally. Amy takes a breath. "Obsidian is already aware of the truth about Witches, so even if they got them, they won't learn anything from what I'm about to tell you." So she thinks. "We've been fortunate that even ''they'' see it as something too terrible to unleash on purpose." So she thinks. "...Honestly... Kyubey uses Puella Magi and [Mahou Shoujo] kind of interchangeably a lot of the time? For all I know he's never ''had'' to specify ''kinds'' of magical girl until recently. He could have told most of us anything he wanted, not like we'd live long enough to check it..." Another breath. She begins to pace. "According to ''him'', he's from an alien civilization -- yes for-realsies [''uchuujin''] from this dimension -- that knows something about magical energy, and harvests it -- allegedly -- to reverse entropy and slow the decay of the universe. But his story doesn't add up, with there having been astrophysicists in the Silver Millenium, they would have noticed." "A-anyway... oh right! I guess this is a little out of order... From our side, a little talking animal just like in stories comes up to us and says--" She imitates Kyubey's voice and use of ''boku'', "Make a contract with me and become a magical girl!" then continues talking normally, "and asks us to make a wish as part of the contract, which will be granted. He'll decieve and manipulate and mislead to get you to agree, but he seems to mostly stick to...omitting parts of the truth over outright lying. And then..." She clutches her hands over her heart. "It feels like you're dying, like you're heart's been ripped out of your body but not physically, and then you're better and..." She holds out the gem in her palm again. "We don't need a transformation phrase, and I never thought of one. Uh... [HENGE!]" Again she poses, and sweeps her right hand over the soul gem, and an ovoid of flame-colored light grows from her gem to surround her, enveloping her, lifting into the air with her unclothed silhouette curled up inside, long hair floating as if she's under water before the light cracks and shatters and Amy, now covered in flames as if from an explosion, snaps back, and the flames fade to leave her new outfit in place. The whole outfit changes at once, but were this animated, the flames disappear from each part of her body in turn to leave that part of her magical girl outfit -- red chestplate, red circle skirt with a belt with a pair of pouches, armored red kneepads and armored white boots with red trim, a white bodysuit from the neck down under it all, white gloves with red trim (and her soul gem on the back of the left wrist), and finally a white hooded cloak -- before she lands back on her feet as the last of the flames vanish from her body. Amy smiles at Siddig-san, eager to see her reaction, and holds her arms up, palms up. "Tada!" She softly notes, "'An idealized alter-ego', huh? I already got that, but-- well, we're getting there, what you're seeing now is... there's still a lot to explain."
Mamoru Chiba	"We're going to stop the Fade," Tuxedo Kamen says, firm and quiet. His hands have no pockets to be in, so they're still and silent at his sides; his shoulders have been hunched under his cape a little bit from the moment the Phenomenon was mentioned. "We're finding out it's probably something we can punch. And we'll punch it hard not just for our future, but for everyone it's taken away before their time. Every one of our people, every piece of protection against wicked magic that this planet's had since this started." And then he tilts his head a little, watching Maryam Determinedly Not Squeal, and blue eyes sparkle behind the mask. "You'll be seeing a lot more magic if you stick around with us. ...please stick around with us."
NPC Maryam Siddig	"So your different magical natures result in differing transformations, not just in power and presentation, but even the very ''act'' of transformation... which, in retrospect, only makes sense. Of course the nature of your power would itself impact the style of it!" Faust-san points out how easy it is to lose the habit of keeping writing utensils on yourself and she laughs, a touch sheepish. "Oh, yes, especially given the nature of my work. I have a tendency to play about with pens, and trace ink transfers are the last thing one can allow when working in a museum. The thought of how I could damage these items with a moment's carelessness keeps me awake at night." She shakes her head, high ponytail shifting with the moment, and the sentiment is a cheerful bit of dramatics, truly. It's a bit of levity, brief, because of the heavy worry on these children's faces... But her own face darkens as both Terios-san and Faust-san share their respective tales, a sense of awe and surprise touching her face. Aliens of other worlds, not divinities and fairies but true aliens, appearing across time and space due to a ship exploding, a first contact tale gone wildly wrong, save that it may not possibly be ''first'' contact, merely ''disastrous'' contact and a lying trickster seeking preservation of the universe. "How terrible... both for the sole survivor of that voyage, and for those of you who have had to deal with this Kyubey. I... will process the reality of alien visitors, though, given that magic is and always has been real, its only sensible that aliens could well be." Faust-san then shares something quite ''concerning'' "Is it dying?" She can only hope the question is not naive, but well - "Given that you have dubbed Kyubey both deceiver and manipulator, and the painful nature of the contract... I would hope that isn't morbid, but while I may not have seen enough magic with my own eyes, I have studied enough to know it can be a painful burden." She's been directly asked, and then the phrase is used enough to fix Kagari-sand Terios-san looks of grave concern. "If the Fade is what you call the Phenomenon, then yes, I was speaking of that, Kagari-san, Terios-san. It has been something of concern to us for some time, as you must imagine. It was not always something mahoujin like yourselves were plagued by, and it is not something the great enemies those like you have fought throughout history have seemed to be troubled by. We have not, and never have been, aware of every threat to come to the Earth, but there have been ''many'' that have come to our attention, through generation upon generation of work and observation, and yet, this Fade Phenomenon effects you, not them." Chiba-san speaks firmly then, declaring that they will stop that Phenomenon, and she smiles faintly. "I believe you. Mahoujin like yourself have saved the world many times. It seems only fitting to me that now you should be able to save yourselves too." Her own eyes sparkle. "I will certainly be here for a time. The exhibit will need to leave Tokyo, eventually, but if there are things that I can help you with, I will."
Hinote Kagari	Pulp Noir nods, and listens to Maryam. "We might be able to stop the Fade." he says. "Which would be marvelous." he smiles as he draws his fedora down suddenly, and then suddenly, he takes on a gruffer demeanor. His tone grows more serious, for a moment, it's ass if Humphrey Bogart's 'Sam Spade' interpretation is alive and kicking. "Now see here. Ya dig? That jar 'dere, you gotta keep it close to your chest now. Keep it on the lowdown. Ya understand, ''dollface''!?" he says, snappointing with a finger gun. "Cuz ol' Silvertop there..." he means Riventon, of course he does. "...is gonna blow his top if he sees it back and then we're right back where we started kapeesh---OH I AM SO SORRY..." he suddenly comes back to reality near the end. "Tracy is in here with me, remember so I can't help the way I speak sometimes and--- Look Rashmi knows this right Doll--Rashmi?" he suddenly stutters. He takes off his fedora and bows apologetically, before bowing back up and putting it back on, brim lifted up so you can see his eyes properly again. "W..whew."
Rashmi Terios	As Mamoru declares their intent to punch the Fade in its stupid face, Rashmi nods gravely... And then Pulp Noir goes full Sam Spade, conjuring the briefest of giggles. "What Noir-san's trying to say is, there's drawbacks to having a Chara, and when you're merged with them, they become pretty standard... In his case, the overpowering urge to talk like a gumshoe in an old crime movie. He'll even narrate when he's on the case!" Magic is just... wonderful sometimes, in the literal sense. "...But yeah, favor one would be not displaying the jar again. If you thought it was destroyed, so does Obsidian, and nobody wants to give them a reason to doubt that, y'know?" Falling silent for a bit, she taps her index fingers together. "...If I had to ask for another favor though... D'you think it'd be okay if I looked around to see if any other things held any magic to them?" They did, after all, treat the jar with the utmost respect... Maybe that could buy them a little forbearance...?
Amy Faust	Is it? Amy blinks. "...I suppose that's a question of philosophy, but I concluded over a decade and a half ago that-- wait, that was for copies-and-brainscans scenarios. Uh, no, ''I'' would not consider it dying, but then I've always considered ''who'' you are to be a seperate question from ''what'' you are, and the continuation of the former for all intents and purposes save details of medical care to determine 'aliveness'." She furrows her brow, and taps her chin thoughtfully. "Well, okay, I suppose you also meaningfully need interaction with the world and a level of agency..." She trails off muttering, thinking as she listens, and when Maryam Siddig says 'It seems only fitting to me that now you should be able to save yourselves too.' Amanda ''stares'' at the curator for a moment, and asks, "...Can I hug you?" If she may, it is a ''tight'' hug. Hug or not, she explains, "Thank you. At first I felt like... like I had to save others but the world would not save ''me''. A-and I coped by telling myself that was the duty of a hero, the best I could hope for, but... It ate at me. ''Why wasn't '''I''' worth saving?'' And it took my friends" she smiles at the others here, "a long time to convince me I ''was''." "...And you, who have no powers save memory, thought of it ''immediately''. Thank you." She bows.
Mamoru Chiba	Tuxedo Kamen smirks at poor Hinote, controlled by Tracy pretty hard for a moment, but it's not mean spirited. And then it turns into that bright sunny slow-blooming smile again when Maryam indicates she ''will'' stick around... and he hangs back, letting Rashmi take care of business. << Hey Rashmi-sama, if you set up the telepathy, I bet Kazuo would love to compare notes with you on any readings you get. >> If she didn't, No One Will Ever Know. Then he smiles a little softer with almost filial affection when Amy goes in for the hug and explains some. Finally, he can't help it, he can't pretend to be a statue anymore, he has to fidget and he has to ''say it'', "And can I join the organization? Candidus Cordis?"
NPC Maryam Siddig	There's a moment where Maryam's eyes just open ''wide'' as Pulp Noir takes on that gruffer demeanor, and she could almost imagine a wind that smells of rain and deeper shadows as he snappoints and articulates his points like something out of an old movie, and if the jazz returned it would seem all the more appropriate. "Protect the Jar by keeping it out of sight from the rest of our staff," she summarizes, and then smiles at Pulp Noir's obvious horror and Terios-san's hurried explanation. "Yes, I can do that. You don't have to be ashamed at all - truly, I was more amused and impressed than anything." Amused in part because Pulp Noir is decidedly a teenager and thus not nearly grizzled enough to pull off the gumshoe routine without amusement, but she doesn't need to grind his ego into the dust. "You've raised a good point, and I have no desire to ''encourage'' Obsidian to take an interest in this exhibit - avoiding their interest is why I didn't heed Principal Hanasaki's suggestion of bringing the exhibit directly to Radiant Heart. I had hope that a more mundane presentation would delay their interest..." Which hasn't quite worked, but she tried! Faust-san is near academic in her ability to expand upon a topic of interest, and Maryam ''is'' interested. She could explain that she meant death in the sense that 'had it been a death', but that's far less important compared to the shared thoughts of a young woman with incredible power at great cost. It would seem that gaining the power of a Puella Magi ''had'' changed her in some substantial way, which Maryam would not inquire further about on a first meeting, but which was equally not a death-and-loss of self. As the redhead trails off into muttering, Maryam focuses on the question Rashmi has asked. "Of course!" Terios-san might not have been expecting quite so much forbearance. "Terios-san, this exhibit is for all of you. While I would certainly ask that you not ''take'' anything, I have nothing against additions, like the one I can only assume one of your friends left behind, and nothing against non-damaging scans. This is ''your'' history, far more than it is mine." It's easy for her to acknowledge that the heroes should save themselves. It seems it was harder for Faust-san to hear, and Maryam's eyes soften, and she opens her arms. "Of course, Faust-san." The hug is tighter on Amy's end, but certainly warm from Maryam's. She's a woman with a large family, and it's far from the first time she's been asked for a hug by a youngster in a fit of emotion. "I'm glad your friends have been there for you, and helped you process that." Mamoru's fidgeting earns a glance and an amused look, and she wonders if he's been pondering that the whole time. "I'm not in charge of that decision," she says firstly, "But to my understanding, there's a dancing troupe of Pretty Cures that some of you may have met, when the Crystal Heart was being transported. Given that they are very much involved, I can't imagine that you would be rejected."
Hinote Kagari	Pulp Noir smiles. "I am glad it is so to you. Sometimes it comes on a little hard. Like it just did. In fits of strong feelings." he says. "Feel free to be amused by it by all means. Rashmi handles it in stride- and yeah I. Narrate sometimes. My doings." He smiles at Rashmi. "I'd also like to investigate I have..." he looks around. "Like a weird sixth sense for things when I'm transformed." he says. "Smells. Sights. Sounds. Touch. Information. All stick out better." he says. "-and it's easy for me to connect dots because of it to some sort of possible conclusion." "I call it uh. Detective Powers." he laughs. "Because it is." Then Amy hugs Maryam and he smiles. That's good. Then Mamoru asks the question and he blinks, but smiles encouragingly. Dancing Troupe of Pretty Cure? Huh.
Rashmi Terios	Sadly, Rashmi did not have telepathy up, because it would be So Rude to talk behind Siddig-sensei's metaphorical back that it didn't even occur to the Devicer to set up comms for not-a-fight. Thus, rather than acknowledge Mamoru's suggestion, she simply pats Amy's shoulder in a supportive way. "From our experience," she says to Maryam, "the bigger the feelings, the stronger the magic. But not even magic teaches you how to deal with huge feelings, so... Making sure each of us has everyone's back helps a lot when people are struggling." And she grins at Pulp Noir. "That is an excellent idea! Maybe we should do an investigation group visit?"
Amy Faust	Amy nods and grins at Maryam's comment that Pulp Noir need not be ashamed. "Kill the part of you that cringes." I'm glad your friends have been there for you, and helped you process that. Amy nods at Rashmi's words, but also... it's... strange. Nice, but strange. There has barely ''been'' any teacher or strange adult, let alone in a pseudo-authority-position, a human from ''this'' Earth, who's known about the magical side of life and interacted with her at all, and so this bypasses the they're-fakers-who-don't-really-know-or-care filter that dulls the praise, criticism, comments and concerns of teachers at school. It's... nice, to have someone -- without ''any'' possibility that it is only because she first earned it with proof of worth in battle, or because they haven't had the innocence of childhood and adolescence crushed yet -- know some of what she's really dealing with and care enough, out of the blue, about someone they ''just met'' and feel enough concern to ''be'' glad of her growth. Maybe there ''are'' people out there she can find a place with, outside Radiant Heart... Her eyes water a little. And she's not sure what to say but thank you. Mahoujin in the Candidus Cordis? "Could..." She fidgets with her hands, looking at the floor, "I have a place there, too? If we kill the Fade and I keep my memories? A-and if we don't the amnesiac that replaces me is gonna need help, too..."
Mamoru Chiba	Mamoru nods, then pauses, then nods more firmly. "I remember him. Who should--" He looks to Amy, then, at her question, and he looks back to Maryam. "Who should we talk to? About joining? I wish-- I wish we could have known any of this earlier, we thought-- we thought all of this was gone. We thought our history was gone, our ancestors. A lot of us don't have families, and even those who do can't share any of this with them. It's really hard being alone! So you have to understand-- the idea of something like that for us, it's like baby pictures for a refugee. We didn't think we'd get to ''have'' this unless we built it ourselves. And it's hard to build when you're a full-time school student!"
NPC Maryam Siddig	"If it's not entirely in your control, I can understand why it may make you uncomfortable, but Faust-san is right. There's no reason to cringe from your own interests." It might be validating to be found cool by an adult. Meanwhile, detective powers? Sincerely quite cool! "A sixth sense for investigation... my, that would make you an excellent detective. You could find clues that others might not detect - and here in this exhibit, it may help you as much as Chiba-san's own gifts helped him with finding secrets here, even ones that I did not know." She inclines her head towards Chiba-san. "If you would like to investigate after hours, if you provide notice, I can make an effort to inform security I will be working in the exhibit, and adjust patrol hours. I'm sure you could avoid them, but there's no need for the stress on your part or theirs. Unless you wish to... how did that saying go... 'test your ability?' by sneaking in." Faust-san and Chiba-san are both sincere in their own desires to be a part of Candidus Cordis, and she looks from one to the other, her heart softening. She speaks to Mamoru's confession first, "I'll find the right contacts for you. It shouldn't be a problem, as I said. We've had mahoujin in our organization before - we still do, in some areas. That we have not made more outreach is - in part, because we are not a single, unified, grand organization, but disparate groups, with a common belief and many thoughts on how it can best be achieved. By and large, we are ''not'' mahoujin, and many of us never have been - those who were, rarely stayed once the Phenomenon - the Fade - took them." "We are not like you... but we respect you, and want to support you, and many of us should have done more than aid in the funding and development of Radiant Heart. What we ''do'' have, is more than you had, alone." R She is accepting that, the implicit criticism and also the overt need. And then her brow furrows, and she turns to Amy. "Why do you say you would be amnesiac? You would not be. That is not quite what the Fade does, unless you were being metaphorical."
Hinote Kagari	Pulp Noir smiles. "Thanks for that. And... yes. What Mamoru says is right. We know some things, but not our history. Even Tracy only knows about Chara things." he admits. He smiles. "I intend to find that out. Artifacts, Paintings, Statues... tell a story. I might be able to figure out that story." he says gripping the brim of his hat confidently." He looks to Rashmi. "Right we can get some others in who may be able to investigate carefully." he smiles again. "Think Hinoiri and Souta would like to come?" he asks as first contact ideas for that. "And-I'd need Nick's...." pause. "Nichohema's..." he says the proper name with a cough. "Sorry I call them 'Nick' in my head." "Anyways. Their help to call up information from the internet. Or I can just bring an iPad." he laughs nervously. But when you have a magic computer? You ask the magic computer for it's help. "If that's fine?" He looks to Siddig. "Siddig-sensei. What exactly is the Fade in your understanding?" he asks curiously, as he smiles. Amy gets a look and a frown. He hasn't thought about the 'forgetting' part of the fade. But Maryam mentions it isn't the case? He looks back to Maryam finally.
Rashmi Terios	"I can say with some confidence that Hinoiri-chan would probably like to join," Rashmi says with a chuckle. "And Inspector Souta, absolutely... We'll have to see if anyone else wants to bend their analysis this way, just in case... Can't have folk feeling left out!" Rashmi pauses for a moment, then clears her throat, turning to Maryam. "...Um. Hinoiri came here from a world of magic, where she was a unicorn. And Inspector Souta... Well he's one of those aliens I told you about, he was a civil servant for their government." Because magic is weird and wonderful, and if you're gonna be blowing minds, you may as well really pack that powder in.
Amy Faust	Amy grins more and nods when Siddig-san says she's right. Unless you wish to... 'test your ability?' by sneaking in. Amy briefly conjures Solid Snake's headband, smiling. And she nods to Pulp Noir. "Anything you find out about the Puella Magi, please let me know... Well, I want to know about ''all'' the mahoujin, really, but..." She pulls Sandy's grief seed from her pouch for a moment. "The last anyone knew of them shouldn't be as monsters, you know?" She slips the seed back into her pouch. We are not a single, unified, grand organization, but disparate groups, with a common belief and many thoughts on how it can best be achieved. Amy mutters dryly, "The eternal struggle of people who actually want to do good... Perhaps we'd be much the same if we didn't have monsters to fight draining people in the streets." Those who were rarely stayed once the Fade took them. "I wonder if any of them ever became mahoujin but then didn't get a chance to tell you. Although, who's to say that 'I wish I were a magical girl' or 'I just wish I had magic' wouldn't result in a reality where they were never Candidus Cordus..." the Puella Magi shakes her head. One might wonder what she means by that, but the next question she's asked touches on it as well... Amy looks up at Maryam, and then away, sighing. Any interaction between them probably won't be the same after this, but... she does want to be ''known'', and Siddig-san will understand in time. She looks back up at the older woman. "I was an adult." "...I also didn't know, at the time, that I was a trans woman, and all of this, I get to be part of because of a damn ''energy-harvesting'' scheme to collect the emotional energy of adolescents, but--" She holds her fingers, spread, to her forehead. "Right, sorry, getting off-topic from the question. 'I'" she says the pronoun with deliberate irony and tone indicating air quotes, and then continues in a completely serious tone, "was thirty-six. I remember another life, growing up in America in the 90's and 2000's, and one in which I was manifestly not ''this.''" She gestures to herself. "And conversely, Amanda Faust, born July 6th, '''''2008'''''', ''did not exist'' until almost two-and-a-half years ago. She has no parents, no past, and I have no memories of living as her before finding magic. So if I forget magic..." She sweeps one hand above her and to the side. "Nothing. I guess maybe I can remember some of what happened at school? Some parts of hanging out with friends and field trips? But the holes will be ''massive'', and nothing before like a week and a half after my 'fifteenth' birthday." "''Why'' do I care about what I care about, why do I like what I like, why am I like this, why am I who I am? Most of everything," she snaps her finger, "''gone''." "I said before aliveness is the 'who'. I'm me, whether in the shape of a man, a gem controlling a flesh-golem puppet, or a magical talking pony." She does not deviate from the serious tone for this entire monologue. "And that means that even if someone's still here, but the 'who' is gone?" She crosses her arms and looks away. "''Identity death is real death.''" She looks back to Maryam Siddig for her reaction.
Mamoru Chiba	Tuxedo Mask looks a little distracted when Pulp Noir mentions Souta, and moreso when Rashmi continues-- but he gets a faint smile. And then Amy gets into the weeds before Maryam can explain, and Mamoru... silently goes to lean against the wall while she's talking. He'll just listen from here.
NPC Maryam Siddig	"With the materials we have in this exhibit, and spirited about our different offices, homes, and places of work, I'm sure there are secrets a good detective could connect into a story," Maryam agrees, not seeking to placate or condescend, but simply believe. Pulp Noir is a ''magical detective'', empowered by the guide to living that very dream. If the mystery he wishes to solve is the history of magic, who is she to disbelieve him? Her brows raise at the names, Hinoiri, Souta, but she's given insight promptly, and she blinks at Terios-san... blinks... raises a hand to her forehead. "Truly, Terios-san, the greatest truth I'm learning from all of you is that the world is so much grander than we already knew it to be. True aliens alongside the dimensional ones, alongside the divinities and fairies we knew of. How truly fascinating... and wonderful. They are welcome, of course, to visit and explore, though I would like to train ''all'' of you who might wish to examine the artifacts more closely on how to handle these delicate, irreplicable items." R There's a touch of sternness there, reminiscent of the moment in which a science teacher begins to explain the dangers of the Bunsen burners and how to operate the eyewash station before a chemistry class can begin. Pulp Noir asks two quite important questions, and Faust-san offers a detailed glimpse into her life. She holds up a hand, gently to Pulp Noir, encouraging patience as the story of a life is told, not quite as fantastical as aliens from other worlds, but certainly distinct, possible ''only'' with magic. Firstly - "I rather doubt it. Given the need for secrecy, and the reach of our enemies, especially in the modern age, we're quite careful to keep track of our membership roster. We have had people like yourselves join us, but I'm unaware of any family within our ranks in generations who have been blessed to have a mahoujin born to them. Those who vanish are always found, in one way or another." Secondly - "Changed, rather than gone," she says, finally. "I won't argue with you on identity death being real death - you have a firm opinion, and it's of no benefit to argue it when I am not the one in danger of it - but it would not be so entirely erased. The person you would be, if you Faded, would not be an amnesiac with only two and a half years of memory. I know this, because we ''do'' have records, of talks with those who have experienced the Fade, of allies we once knew and lost." "I'm not sure ''when'' it all began, but by the early 1800s, members of Candidus Cordis were well aware that mahoujin were ''vanishing''. Forgetting parts of them themselves and their power. They were well into adulthood, some of them established, some of them late into blooming with their power, but they forgot. And over the years, members continued to find and collaborate with mahoujin when possible, and they continued to lose themselves, at a certain point in their lives."
NPC Maryam Siddig	"Ahh, but 'lose oneself' - you asked me, Pulp Noir, what the Fade is to our knowledge, and as I can best explain it - it is when the magic leaves a Mahoujin's life, as though it had never been. The magic is gone, and with it, the memory that the combat was a part of life. The battles aren't forgotten - but the context changes. What was once a battle for the fate of the world becomes a fantastical tale, in a novel that one rather inconveniently can no longer recall the name of. Allies in battle, into friends that one sparred or fenced with, crossed wits with over the chessboard, or in the halls of law, depending on one's place in the world. The memories are changed, muddled, softened. The scars on the mind - for many, they lessened. For others, they gained new, mundane causes - wounds from battle into scars of attacks, enemies who had caused severe wounds into ruffians encountered at great peril. The essence of a story, but not the complete shape. A rectangle shaved into a square, an octagon rounded into a circle." Maryam gives Faust-san a long, considering stare. "I can't promise you what will happen. It seems as likely to me that you might remember being your own parent, your first life's past blended with your own - struggles in college might become struggles in elementary school, parents might become distant grandparents, the problems of adult life at thirty-six translated into problems peppered throughout a high-school life filled with emotionally impactful stories from video games, tabletop adventures, and books that you can't quite find when you search them up. You would not be who you were - that is certainly. You would be a puzzle reconstructed from your pieces, but not quite an amnesiac, either."
Hinote Kagari	Pulp Noir takes this in and brings a hand to his chin. Huh. This paints a good picture for the mind palace, someone being an octagon, but becoming a circle. Still a shape. Just different. Still a puzzle, still maybe recognizable in pieces but not in others. The fade is more a reorganization than a forgetting. Isn't it?" "Huh. Alright. That's a lot to take in now, Siddig-sensei, thank you! I'll remember this. Yes, please show us how to uh. Handle these things. If we need to touch them. And only if need be." she smiles raising a finger and pointing. "Now. Tracy wanted to explore this portrait earlier. I'm gonna think this over and go indulge his curiosity at the same time." he says as he walks over to the portrait, pulls out a magnifying glass from the coat, and looks it over carefully. Not touch, never touching. "Hrmmm..." "Hrmmm... I looked over the portrait..." "Was it a forgery!? Did the crook get away with it...!?" he begins to trail off into quiet narration into this night.
Rashmi Terios	Rashmi has, occasionally, given thought to the Fade. Not much, mind, because there's always something more immediate to worry about, trauma more present to cope with. Her plans for her life were always big, but mundanely so; a career in politics, perhaps eventually a seat on the Diet, where she could do big things for large numbers of people. The mahoujin life, fighting monsters and saving the world? Less 'the point of existing,' than 'what fills in the empty spaces,' something that is Good and Important, but seasoning, rather than staple. She always figured that Fading would impact her plans and goals little, if at all. But to hear Siddig-sensei tell it, Rashmi sees it from a different angle, now; for her entire life, huge chunks of her high school memories would be like a sesame seed, stuck in her teeth. There would be the frustration of knowing that something wasa off about how she remembered... lots of things. Chrono, Molly, Usagi, so many other people important to her, foundational in helping her become who she is, wrapped in a thick fog of 'remember the silly stories we made up? Good thing we grew out of that in time to take on the real world.' Like that old Peter Pan movie, with no fairy to reawaken lost memories. Horrifying to contemplate. Intolerable. And if Siddig-sensei's artifacts tell a true tale, and the age at which the Fade is happening has been accelerating? This cannot continue. Closing her eyes, Rashmi takes in a long deep breath. "Thank you, Siddig-sensei... For everything. We'll definitely be back... And I would love to learn how to handle the things properly."
Amy Faust	Amanda listens to the truth of the Fade, the reality of what happens. Even during the first part of the explanation, she can guess where this is going. She's read so many mangas like this, although none that would have gone into such detail on early life as her memory. Although Maryam Siddig offers the rather cursed possibility of remembering her past life's struggles as a parent's (or perhaps uncle's, she's occasionally explained that she got her taste in old video games and anime from "Uncle Mallory who used to live around here") "A puzzle reconstructed from pieces. So that's our fate..." she says with an empty-eyed expression, staring at nothing, and slowly walks over to the nearest wall she can put her back against and slowly slide into a sitting position. "...Cursed... That's so cursed... I'll ''definitely'' need help existing in the world, no one's gonna get it... an' for all we know if I fall into Despair I still turn into a Witch... haha, 'fall into'..." she speaks as if there's something funny about the words, not as if she's already despairing. She still has hope they can beat it. But now that she knows, for the first time, specifically what happens if they ''don't'', her mind needs to process the possibility she has dismissed as Some Amnesiac Girl's Problem. "That's so fucked up! That's 'Inside Mari' levels of fucked up, and ''I'm gonna know that'' and look ''even more'' crazy like I looked for manga to imitate ''with'' my life and feelings instead of the other way around!!" She almost laughs. "What am I gonna tell a psychologist? What am I gonna ''look like'' to a psychologist?" Is being her and ''not knowing'' what happened, ''worse'' than dying and being replaced by someone else? Well, she'll have to experience it and live with it, and now it's ''real'', and it's ''not'' a vague hypothetical she'll be gone for. "...We have to beat this. If we don't, I'm gonna need you all more than ever and I'm sorry in advance for making you deal with me, and I can't put into words how much it means that you just might ''not'' want to be rid of me--" but will the bond really seem as strong and important, relegated to fantasies and adjusted memories, faced with the pressures of adult life? Sailor Moon said she sounds like someone who needs to live off the grid and Faded Amy would be far Worse... "--but we have to beat this. I wanna ''have a life!''"
Mamoru Chiba	From his spot leaning against the wall, at eighteen years old and in danger, Mamoru Chiba says quietly, "What you've described is arguably worse. I wouldn't know that person at all. That person would probably not actually remember being Endymion, which is like seventy percent of my personality. That person would not remember being shaped by having magic his whole life. That person would not know there'd have been a ''reason'' for all the things in my life that have really and truly sucked, or a promise of a better future or a true dream." He takes a deep breath. "Since it's sharing time and that is a T R A G E D Y, not just part of life... here. I'm already a puzzle reconstructed from pieces. I have no idea who I was before I turned six, and I'm eighteen. My parents died in a car crash that gave me total retrograde amnesia. When I was thirteen Obsidian got me out of the orphanage and messed with my memory and it was two and a half years of incredibly messed up living, and I got out with the help of my friends and a miracle that Sailor Moon provided to keep me from actually dying, and I finally got my memories of being Endymion back all the way. When I was sixteen. I've been a healer and a psychic the ''whole time.'' I was a healer and a psychic in my first life, and there was no Fade and no Veil, back then. There's not a lot of life in there that isn't magic or shaped by it." He smiles, and it's a very different smile. It's made of steel and there's a furious little kid in there who'll never let anything else be taken from him without a fight. "So," he says firmly, "I won't Fade. And neither will anyone else, ever again, because we are going to ''kill it.'' Now that we know it's something we can ''do something about'', we ''will''." He pushes off the wall and says, finally, "I also have a lot of ideas. I want to be a social worker, I want to ''be'' the psychologist that kids with trauma like ours can talk to and be believed. But I have to make sure I ''can'' believe, even if the Fade gets me-- but it won't. It won't. You all-- text me if you want me for something, I'm going to go sit on a roof and look at the moon."