isleofavalon | [closed] the magical girl house

[ A few residents had disappeared of this house, due to the whims of whatever power ruled on the comings and goings in Avalon. And what with the refugee crisis, Monika and Jean had both been invited to move in— Seeing how they'd been looking for a new place to live in, they'd both accepted obviously. New residents meant they all had to meet and greet, right?

Nearly everyone should be there already. Monika on her end was still in the kitchen because she had promised to make cupcakes. That had been a mistake. Those... Weren't Natsuki's cupcakes. They were a pale imitation at best. There were no cute little faces drawn on them, but Monika had tried to make them heart-shaped using very rudimentary methods. The results were average at best. As far as taste was concerned, they were okay. They wouldn't be particularly good nor bad. For anyone feeling peckish, they'd do just fine. Hopefully.

Well no matter. She'd never really baked anything before... She could only get better with time, right? Monika put all the cupcakes on a tray and brought them to the living room. ]

Cupcakes are ready!

[ She set the tray down, before taking her seat. ]

[ Minako thinks cupcakes are the perfect way to get Monika fully integrated in this house. After all, Minako sure knows at least one person in this house who could never resist anything sweet to eat.

And it's not like Minako herself is going to turn down the idea. So when she hears Monika calling out like that, it doesn't take long at all for the girl to appear in the room as well, quickly taking a seat and already grabbing one of the cupcakes, holding it between both of her hands. ]

Monika-chan, I didn't know you were a baker! And these shapes are totally cute.. they're hearts, right? [ Sure, technically the cupcakes might kind of look average.

But Minako is always here to support her friends, even if it's by giving them way too much praise. ]

[ Monika nodded. She was glad the shape was recognizable, even if barely. Someday she'd have the skills to make cute little faces of shapes on the cupcakes, but for a start she was pretty proud of herself. ]

Mhm! [She smiled.] I don't have much experience baking but you got to start somewhere, right?

[ She took one herself, though she didn't eat it just yet. ]

I must thank you again for inviting me here. It's so much nicer than my hotel room, ahaha!

[ She wondered if the invitation had had anything to do with the heartache issue she'd confided in last month... Even if it did, it probably didn't matter. It was nice to have a friend who cared enough to invite her. ]

[Mamoru is mostly relaxing and reading a book in one of the armchairs when Monika brings in the cupcakes. He's not really a sweettooth, but he can appreciate the effort put into the treats.]

Did we gain a new baker after losing one? Usako will be pleased.

Ahaha, I'm only a fledgling baker I'm afraid~

[ She smiled at him when he said that, though her smile soon turned smile. Even though that was the reason why Minako had invited her... She couldn't imagine the loss of their friend was easy to cope with. ]

I'm sorry for your loss... [She looked down, before looking back up at him.] But I'm sure eventually, we'll find a way to control the flow of who comes and goes in Avalon.

Aww.. Sheesh, don't even waste words on thanking me!

[ Minako quickly shakes her head, as if she doesn't even want to entertain the notion that this is something she ought to get thanked for. ]

Isn't this only natural? I thought it sounded so sad that you were planning on being all by yourself.. That kind of thing doesn't suit a girl like you! [ Especially not when Minako knows that Monika - technically - has been alone for so long already, trapped in a game without any other people like her around. There's no need to let her be alone even longer. ] Of course I'd want to make sure you have company. And I like to think I'm pretty good company, and I know my friends are too!

Can't stop me, ahaha~

[ To her, that was worth a lot of thanks. She was really happy at that opportunity. She'd been delaying her move over and over again in part because she hadn't wanted to find herself all alone. This was perfect. ]

Well, I'm used to being on my own. [Wait, that sounded depressing. She really didn't want to take things in that direction today, so—] But I'll admit, I've always enjoyed the idea of sharing a place with a few friends.

[ It was comforting, in a strange way. Knowing there were real people around her, that she wasn't alone in some tiny reality. Even though she'd mostly gotten over her paranoia that maybe Avalon wasn't real, there was always that doubt in the back of her mind. And the presence of other people helped tons. ]

Mhm! They seem really sweet.

[ Don't think she doesn't catch the way Monika quickly tries to avoid that mood dip there! Minako's too observant when she tries to not notice it, but she will be kind enough to not point it out when Monika already seems like she's trying to switch the course herself.

Instead she just smiles, taking a bite off the sweets and letting out a sound that sounds like approval. They are good! ]

Well, I think everyone here enjoys the idea of having someone around again who can bake. [ Makoto was always the one filling their house with baked goods, after all. It feels like a hole was left here without those. ] You don't even want to know how bad I am at this sort of thing.

[ Monika was very grateful she said nothing about that. That was the same reason she avoided talking about Minako's friends who had disappeared... The empty space left was why she had been invited in the first place. But that was a heavy topic and for once she wanted to avoid bring the sad topics with her. ]

Don't I? [She smiled.] Maybe you should be my assistant next time I bake something.

[ Maybe she could go for something even more ambitious... But what? ]

One of my friends was a pro at this. She made the most delicious and cutest cupcakes. She drew cute cat faces on them.

Cute cat faces?

[ Minako gasps. Apparently Monika stumbled upon a magical word here, because it sure is getting a reaction out of Minako. Not a bad one though, no, instead there seems to be some sort of glee within her surprise. ]

Oh, that's amazing! We simply have to try it out! [ That proclamation is followed by a semi-awkward pause, with Minako's smile shrinking a tad. ] .. if you really don't mind having me as an assistant, I mean! I promise I'll try my best to not make things harder..

Ahaha! Do you like cats?

[ It sounded like she'd stumbled on a magical word indeed. The question was whether that word was cute or cat! ]

Mhm! I seriously doubt you could make things worse... [She winked at her.] In return, I could be your assistant next time you do magical girl things. No better way to learn than from a pro, right?

[ She was also helping Drake, but he was more of a comic superhero than a magical girl, variety would help. ]

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. ]

[What's the best way to bake anything in this house without Usagi peeking into the kitchen all the time or (at least almost literally) rolling around the floor like she can't wait for any food or baked goods to ready? Make them. while she's not home!

So, let's say this time she returns there just in time before they're ready, rushes to wash her hands as soon as she smells the scent of something sweet from the kitchen and... She rushes to take a seat just when Monika brings them to table and gasps as soon as she sees the cupcakes.]

Wooooooow, those look amazing!!

[She's already grabbing one, and biting into it before she even realizes that -- maybe, just maybe, she could at least introduce herself??? So, Usagi looks at her with a wide smile all over her face.]

Hello and welcome, I'm Usagi! It's really great to have you here with us!

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?

[ It was perhaps a mercy that Monika had cooked those while Usagi was outside— She would have probably burned the poor cupcakes with that much pressure over her shoulders. In fact, Monika looked surprised at the girl being there the moment she brought the cupcakes. She'd heard the entrance door open like a second ago maybe? Goodness, that was worse than Sayori! ]

Hi there Usagi, I'm Monika. Thank you for the welcome!

[ She'd never met her before— Well, she'd seen her here and there but she'd never actually talked to her. So she was pretty happy her attempt at making a good first impression was a complete success! ]

Minako's told me lots of great things about you. [Well, not "lots." But her opinion of her friends was so high, it was obvious they were really important to her. Monika then nudged the cupcake tray next to her.] Please help yourself to more. They won't eat themselves, ahaha!

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. ]

[That'd be better than Usagi's attempts in baking which have always ended into burned baked goods... But a possibly easy solution to all of those pressures? Inviting Usagi into the kitchen to taste and clean everything, she could help even when she's not good at cooking or baking herself, she just loves eating almost anything.]

That's a really pretty name.

[She's not sure where to start with this herself, aside from the eating part but she's already doing that, but she figures maybe some basic questions to kick things going might not be the worst idea ever.]

Really? Well, I could also tell you lots of those about Mina-chan, because she's so sweet and amazing, but let's talk about you~. Or I can also answer any questions too. What's your favorite food? Favorite color? Do you like cats or dogs or both?

[Usagi finishes the first cupcake and doesn't any time with getting more of them, when Monika's even offering them.]

Thank you, thank you, I will happily eat many of them. New baker in the house, how lucky~!

[ 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. ]

Aww, thank you!

[ She was pretty proud of her name, that was one thing she really liked about herself so hearing compliments about it was always really nice. Then she started looking more and more embarrassed as the questions came in. Goodness, she had even more energy to sell than Minako, didn't she? ]

Oh gosh, that's a lot of questions... [She laughed awkwardly before taking a pause.] Um... I'm actually vegetarian! I don't really have a favorite meal, but they tend to be veggies-based. As for my favorite color, it is emerald green. And I like both cats and dogs equally!

[ Well, pink was also a favorite... In fact, she used it more often than emerald green. But the later was more uncommon and made her feel more unique. Okay, maybe she could avoid another barrage of question: ]

What about you? Are you like Minako? [She raised a finger.] I mean you know, the magical girl thing?

[ ... Hopefully it wasn't too embarrassing to ask. ]

[ 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? ]

[That's a lot of questions? But... Usagi could have asked so many more too in one go, so maybe it's good that she stopped there.]

That's really cool, we can do some veggie-based meals more often -- as long as someone eats my carrots too, I don't like them. [Even if her name means "bunny".] Emeralds are really pretty, though my own favorite colors are pink and white, my favorite food is cake and I love both cats and dogs too.

[Wait, what? Usagi looks so surprised by Monika's question for a moment. Congratulations, she's at least quiet for a moment and she's definitely avoiding some questions with that one. . . . Well, it's not like they have to hide the magical girl thing or Moon Princess stuff or anything else here. She lets out a sheepish laugh and smiles after that, it's actually amazing not having to keep all of those secrets.]

Yeah, I'm a magical girl too and when I transform, I become Sailor Moon. It's how we met... One night I was in trouble as Sailor Moon and she came to rescue me with her powers, though she's been a magical girl even longer than me.

I'm sure someone here will be happy to eat your carrots, ahaha!

[ Her. That person was her. She loved carrots, so she wouldn't mind helping on that front! ]

Sailor Moon...? Gosh, it's amazing... It all sounds like something fantastical straight out of a book.

[ She smiled brightly. Well, there were a lot of amazing things in Avalon... She did notice Usagi's surprise though, so she hurriedly added: ]

Minako and I got close after certain events where she got to, um, see my past... [After a fashion. She looked away, Monika really didn't feel like going into details.] And then over time, one thing led to another. So don't worry, she's not telling everyone she meets about magical girls, ahaha. If anything she's quite secretive about it.

[ The last thing she wanted was for Minako's friend to think she was a blabbermouth. It'd been pretty obvious her identity as such a fantastical person was something she usually never told anyone about. ]

[closed] the magical girl house

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