isleofavalon | [closed] the magical girl house

Of course you can come with me at that point if you want to!

[ Usually Minako would be a lot more apprehensive about this, especially since even though Monika has been through difficult things before, it doesn't seem like the other has had to ever deal with actual fighting or combat back home..

But.. well, it's not like anyone is exactly helpless in this place, considering everyone has magic. And if Monika would end up in serious trouble, then Minako could just save her since she'd be right there, right?

Hence the easy agreement. It comes with a smile on her face - a smile that doesn't fade when she touches the other question. ]

And.. yeah, of course I like cats. I had a cat as my sidekick back home, you know! [ You know, the typical cute magical girl animal sidekick.. ] And I have a cat as my familiar here too, but he's nowhere near as great. It really makes me miss Artemis.

Isn't there a way to get your cat back? Last time I went to the Elphame Traders they had on sale a mean to get back an item or pet from home.

[ Whether a "sidekick" would count as a pet though, that was another matter entirely. That reminded her-- ]

Oh, I never showed you the weapon I got, did I? [It was in her room... Okay, that would be a good test of her kinetic abilities. She extended a hand to try and summon it to herself... .... .... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... Nothing.] Oh, um, ahaha... I'm gonna go fetch it!

[ Gosh, that was embarrassing! She was new at kinetic magic, but still... She got up quickly and rushed to her room. ]

[ Yes, it's the same thing Minako figures. Artemis is a person, after all, even if he chooses to stay in his cat form most of the time.. But she figures she shouldn't bother Monika with the details.

No, especially not since the other looks so embarrassed before walking off. Instead Minako just smiles encouragingly after the other when she witnesses Monika practically running off in a dustcloud, making sure to call out: ]

It's fine, it's fine! [ The last thing she wants is for the other girl to feel this embarrassed..! ] Take your time, okay?

[ Monika had yet to unpack her things— She hadn't had much to move in the first place, but there were still a few boxes waiting to be opened. But after a couple minutes, she finally came back with a staff in hand. It was pink and looked just like a pen, with a heart-shaped jewel at the top of the pen-staff. ]

There it is!

[ She seated herself back down and opened a small compartment on the bottom half of the "staff. Using kinetic magic, she slid her phone into the compartment. It clicked, fitting in perfectly. ]

I've had Darin make it for me. What do you think? [She handed Minako the pen-staff.] There's a mechanism insides that connects the phone to the heart jewel. So any technomancy magic I use with my phone, I can instead use with the staff.

[ Monika wasn't a real magical girl, but heck if she wasn't going to use every possible tricks to look legit. ]

Ooh..

[ Minako does seem rather intrigued as she takes the object from Monika for a moment. She turns it over in her head, staring at it with a gaze that does seem to be observing it more than most people would. After all, Minako sure has experience with magical girl equipment, so it's easy for her to compare this to some of the things she has used before, or that their friends have used.

As her gaze finally moves from the pen-staff over to Monika's face, Minako does look sufficiently impressed. ]

That's pretty cool! Not to mention clever, that they managed to figure out a way to conduct your usual magic through this thing. But..

[ It does seem like there's one thing on Minako's mind. It's nothing too serious - more just that she's curious. ]

It's not like you need something like this to use your magic, right? [ Since she said she could use her phone. ] Is it just because you think it looks cuter?

In part, yeah. [She blushed a bit. She felt called out on going for cute things. That was Natsuki's part normally...] But there's also a more practical use.

[ She took the pen-staff back to give an example. ]

Spells stored with technomancy can't be directed. They just shoot out from the screen in a straight line. It's not very practical. [Then she pointed her staff at Minako and--] Open a healing spell! [Following her words, a spell came from the heart-shaped jewel and straight to Minako, though it probably had no effect unless she had bruised herself earlier or something.] See? With the staff, I have some control on how to direct the spell. It's much more convenient than to awkwardly try angling my phone so the spell goes where I want.

[ ... ... ... ... That and it was really cute and gave off big magical girl vibes. But she was going to downplay that aspect as much as humanly possible. ]

[ Pssshaw, Monika, it's totally okay to like cute things! As if Minako of all people is going to judge her for that.

But the rest of the explanation sounds believable enough that Minako is willing to just assume that it's most of the reason. She knows she'd be pretty annoyed if she wouldn't be able to aim her magic properly.. It's a good thing that her own light magic doesn't seem to be that way.

(Granted, she could just think on and think of why Monika would have to use this particular shape instead of something less cute and more simple.. But right now Minako isn't thinking about it hard enough to arrive there.) ]

Makes sense. [ She nods. ] Technomancy seems so amazing to me in general! I mean.. can you just do anything with it, as long as you involve some piece of technology?

[ Like how Monika's phone has to go into the wand first. ]

[ She nodded. A lot of people didn't know how to take advantage of technomancy, but Monika thought it was hands-down the most powerful magic type in Avalon. ]

Not everything but a whole lot! Most people don't know how to properly use Technomancy. But my, um, unique insight into manipulation data means I have a lot of ideas. I kinda feel like a pioneer, ahaha!

[ It was no exaggeration to say Monika had thought of what can be done with technology and computer coding more than most people on this island. Despair had driven her to really dark corners back then... Still, she kept on smiling. ]

Haruka was one of your friend, wasn't she? [They had never mentioned each other, but putting details together it felt like a logical conclusion.] I met her last month and I'd told her some tips to use her technomancy.

[ Oops... She'd meant to avoid talking of her friends, but the topic was unavoidable sooner or later, huh? ]

[ Unique insight indeed. While Minako isn't the kind of person to understand technology on that level at all - please, she's from the 90s, computer coding wasn't exactly something every teenage girl was getting into, let alone able to get into - she does know about Monika's background, after all. If she was stuck inside of a game, she sure must've figured out a whole lot about that game. But she knows well enough to let that topic rest, not wanting to dredge up anything uncomfortable.

.. speaking of dredging up uncomfortable things, thankfully it seems like Minako is able to remain smiling just fine in the presence of that remark. ]

Ah.. really? I didn't know you met Haruka-san already! [ As always, it's hard to tell if Minako's lack of sadness is genuine or not - but it mostly is in this case. After all, she knows she'll meet everyone again back home. It's just a matter of waiting out her time here. ] What did you think of her? Isn't she so handsome? Honestly, I felt like I could have a crush on her the first time I saw her back home!

She is! And so professional... She seemed to be such an experienced fighter. We nearly ended up fighting because of a misunderstanding. [Monika smiled even so— It wasn't a bad memory at all. It would have been, had the misunderstanding not been cleared.] Gosh, I would have been so utterly defeated...!

[ There was no shame in admitting to being inexperienced. Though, something else Minako had just said caught her attention. What was that...? She could have had a crush on Haruka? ]

I didn't know you were into girls too Minako, ahaha!

[ 100% innocent remark, maybe with a slight ounce of teasing in there. Most certainly not a discreet way to see her reaction so she has an idea of what her preferences are. Nope, perish the thought. Minako had always mentioned boys, so that was only natural for it to be a tad surprising when she mentioned crushing on a girl, right? ]

Oh..! Well, if someone is that beautiful, then what does it matter if they're a guy or a girl, right?

[ Minako smiles as she says it, clearly not taken aback by Monika's question. Even though it's definitely true that when she's talking about this sort of stuff, she's usually talking about guys..

But she seems to have zero difficulty as she continues: ] After all, wouldn't it be weird for the goddess of love and beauty herself to only limit her to liking only some kinds of people that way? I have to keep my interests broad, and my heart wide open!

[ Even though she has issues actually letting herself love someone else, like she's told Monika about before, but ssh, ssh, let's sweep that right under the rug, okay.. ]

But.. what kind of misunderstanding did you and Haruka-san even have?

I think it's a really great way to see things! [She beamed and nodded.] I'm kinda the same. If I find my soulmate, what gender they are really doesn't matter.

[ The irony wasn't lost on Monika though. Minako kept her heart wide open, yet she refused to allow herself to fall in love. That was so contradictory... Though she could start seeing a picture form in her head.

She kept her heart wide open, yet she placed a barrier forbidding any love... Old romantic dreams crushed under the weight of reality. But why keep her heart open then? That sounded like a cry for help. For someone to help her remove that barrier so she could finally live the life she wanted!

..... Alternatively, maybe Monika was still just projecting hard. ]

Oh, do you remember one of last month's quest? Some kind of lunatic was disguised as some kind of movie character and attacking people at night. [The change in topic was welcome, better than get lost in thoughts right now.] I'd kind borrowed a costume to train like a magical girl, ahaha...

[ Okay, that part was embarrassing so she looked away. Besides that costume had been more like Zorro... ]

So of course, when Haruka saw me costumed and training with a weapon, she thought I was the lunatic. Thankfully, we cleared that misunderstanding pretty quickly.

[ Minako hums as the other girl asks her about that quest, clearly remembering it - and the image is already fully forming in her mind when Monika mentions borrowing a costume. Oh, talk about absolute terrible timing for that..

Though, thankfully, Minako doesn't seem to judge the other at all for getting that costume in general. It does seem like Monika.. really likes magical girls, huh? As odd as that idea is, considering it's literally the life Minako has been born with. ]

Ah, I'm glad to hear that.. I wouldn't want to see you or Haruka-san hurt. [ Especially not over a dumb misunderstanding, of all things. ] You really were practicing like that out in the open though? That's so bold of you!

[ It's the kind of 'bold' that could easily be misinterpreted to mean something negative, but it doesn't sound like Minako is saying it that way. Maybe she's instead just impressed at Monika's self-confidence. ]

[ Thankfully, there were no misunderstandings here. But it was still a bit embarrassing... She wouldn't have called it bold, but stupid. ]

Well, it was nighttime, I was hoping nobody would see me...

[ But on the topic of her being bold and disguised... There was something she wanted to add. Truth to be told, she didn't really like the idea of being a "magical girl" so much. It was fun and she'd kind of fixated on it after receiving some encouragement. But... The more time passed, the more wrong it felt.

It wasn't her. If she was doing stuff like fighting for justice and whatnot? She'd want people to know who she was. Monika. Not some masked superhero. She felt selfish really... But she needed external validation. People knowing of what she's done and being pleased with her. If she did it all and nobody would ever know that was her? She'd probably stop before long. ]

But I think I'll let go of the whole disguise and magical girl thing. It's not really me. I've been trying way too hard to become someone new ever since I arrived in this world... [She closed an eye.] I'm keeping the pen-staff though. That's too handy to let go of, ahaha!

[ It mostly sounds like a good thing to Minako. Not really for her own sake - even though the magical girl thing definitely is a little awkward - but mostly for Monika's own sake. If she's realising that it's best to just be herself.. then that's definitely a good realisation to have.

But something still gnaws a little at the back of Minako's mind. Just enough for her to give the other a smaller smile, one that seems a tad apologetic. ]

I'm glad if you were able to realise that, but.. [ ... ] It's really just because you realised it yourself, right? It isn't because I was having a little trouble with the idea at first, is it?

[ Look, she just doesn't want to be the reason for Monika to let go of a dream, in case that might be it after all. ]

Oh no, it's not at all because of you!

[ She shook her head. Last thing she wanted was for Minako to think it was her fault. It was all because of how she, Monika, was. ]

I think you really need to be selfless for that. [A pause.] Assuming a secret identity, doing all those wonderful thing but never receiving any praise or compliments?

[ Over time, that'd become... Unbearable. She wasn't particularly vain or egoistical. But she needed for her efforts to be recognized. She needed other people to look at her and approve of her. She needed people to like "Monika," not "Doki Dream." ]

I realize it probably sounds very selfish, but it's more that... [If she were to judge, she'd say she was somewhere between "selfish" and "selfless."] I need external validation. Like, a lot. [She laughed.] Over time I'd become that super cliche former hero who becomes evil because she's not happy with her life, ahaha!

Edited 2021-11-01 13:49 (UTC)

No, rather than it being very selfish.. I think it's probably just normal?

[ .. is she saying that it, in turn, means that Minako is the abnormal one here? Maybe, though it's at most implied rather than actually said. After all, Minako has never ever thought of wanting acknowledgement for anything she does, easily devoting her life to someone else without ever having second thoughts about it.

But most people probably wouldn't think that way, and she knows it. ]

Especially since.. well, you know. Your circumstances. [ She keeps it at that, not wanting to remind the other too much of what she's been through. ] Now you're out here with all of us, it's probably pretty nice to have people acknowledge you as the person you are, right? I get that!

[ Before her epiphany, she had been more like Minako on that front. She was right on the money with why she was this way. Her "circumstances" were the root of this desperate need for validation. ]

You do? Well, that's a relief. I thought this was me being, I dunno... Bad or something.

[ Monstrous. She'd never told Minako the extent to which she had gone to try and escape the game, the horrors she had done when she'd been desperate. But it still haunted her. She still feared she was a monster. So that was reassuring to hear.

External validation and all, heh? ]

Well then, I hope you won't mind having just Monika as your assistant when the day will come, ahaha~

[ No magical girl thing. Just who she was. ]

[ Minako nods as an answer to that first part - probably wanting to verbally say something as well, but she's already taken another bite of the sweets, which means her mouth is entirely filled up with fluffy delight. Which she's chewing and - thankfully - swallowing by the time Monika finishes talking, so she won't speak up with her mouth full in a way no one can understand. ]

Don't be silly, Monika-chan! I'd never think you're bad!

[ .. even if Minako may have some rose-tinted glasses when it comes to all of her friends.. ]

Isn't it really normal to sometimes want something for yourself? We're all human, it's not like we can be super selfless and good all the time.. It's trying to be that at the times when it really matters that's important!

[ She nods, and then smiles at the other girl. ]

So don't worry. I think just having super cute Monika-chan as my assistant is more than enough. Whatever makes you most happy and comfortable!

[ Trying to be selfless at the right time, when it really matters... A balance between treating yourself and caring for others. Yes, that was ideal. It was really good advice. It was just so ironic that Minako couldn't be further from following it. She was on the absolutely selfless end of the spectrum.

But she didn't bring it up, not now. They were having a good time and so far they'd dodged the touchy topics like true professionals. No need to change that. ]

You're full of wisdom as usual, ahaha~!

[ She took a cupcake but didn't eat it just yet, smiling instead. ]

Thanks, Minako. I'm... Really grateful to have made a friend like you here.

[ One who'd invited her to live here, one who didn't judge her, one who prioritized her happiness... And most importantly, she was a friend she had made on her own. Not someone her creator had created with a specific role in mind. ]

I'm glad to have met you here too!

[ Not that she's just mirroring Monika's own words without understand the true meaning of them on the other girl's end - she does. After all, the gratitude Monika expresses comes with a certain set of circumstances. It comes with the knowledge that maybe Monika has never truly been able to have anything like this before.

A friend who chooses to be around her, rather than just.. being programmed to be there, or something like that. However specifically things in that game worked. ]

Besides, I'm the one who's grateful for you moving in, just when the house was starting to get a little more quiet.. [ And if Minako hates anything, it's the idea of that. Especially when it's not just her own happiness on the line, but Usagi's too. Hopefully the presence of someone new distracts her a little too from their recent losses. ] So I guess that makes us even, right?

[ Even, huh? No... Not even close. She felt there was so much she would have to do to repay Minako before they would even be close to "even." Her helping the house feel more lively was nothing in comparison. But she wasn't going to argue the point. ]

Mhm!

[ She nodded at her. ]

Gosh, I guess that means I ought to be noisy, huh... [That wasn't really her specialty. She was pretty sociable but not prone to making unnecessary noise.] Maybe I should look into getting a piano with my savings.

[ No better way to make sure the house would never be quiet ever again. ]

[ It's not quite the kind of 'preventing quiet in the house' that Minako was thinking of..

But exactly because it's so unexpected and surprising, it just makes her laugh instead. Don't worry, Monika, Minako has already got the noisy aspect covered when it's really necessary. It's her specialty. ]

Oh, oh! You totally should, and then we'll have to find some songs that I can sing along to that you can actually play on there! Then we can be a musical duo..!

[ That idea makes her look pretty excited! ]

Oh right! You're a pretty good singer, right?

[ Monika hadn't heard her performance just yet at this point in time. But the idea was very exciting.

More so since Monika wasn't so good at singing and preferred playing the piano over doing both. Gosh, was that what it felt like having a real friend, planning to do things without always being haunted by the knowledge all of it was meaningless, just doing fun things for the sake of the things themselves.

... It was truly wonderful. ]

Ehehe, that'll be amazing!

Well.. I'm not sure if you'd call it good, but I could be a mega superstar, you know..

[ .. aren't those two things she said just now inherently contradictory?

They sure are, and yet Minako says them so easily. Without even thinking about it. In fact, the whole lack of thinking might be the exact problem here - but does it matter when Monika is smiling like that and seeming so excited?

Of course not. Minako has already accomplished her goal, just by getting to see that. ]

I'll make sure to do my best to live up to your piano skills! And.. you know, now we have even less housemates, we don't even have to be all careful and quiet about it! We could practice whenever you'd want to.

[closed] the magical girl house

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