InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "take that and rewind it back"

暁美ほむら ♦ Homura Akemi (timelesspromise) wrote in marinanova,
@ 2012-09-19 19:38:00

Entry tags:

bak chang, homura akemi, madoka kaname, quinn fabray, sophie-anne leclerq

[Action | Open] Fifth Leap
[Midway through the morning, prior to the breach of Sector 6, the bots finally came for Homura, interrupting her in the course of surveying parts of the dome. It's been a few days now since her punishment was assigned to her, but apparently she can't just ignore that punishment forever. Naturally if they are computers, then they probably won't ever.

Even if she could fight or run, there's no use fighting it. As far as punishments go, it's a slap on the wrist. After all, it's just a guest lecture.

She's made no attempts at advertising it, so whoever happens to walk into the classroom is fine. Who would be interested in a lecture delivered by a second year middle school student? Not that it matters. She'd speak even if no one shows up and it had better still count. There were no requirements mentioned.

Not long after being escorted to an open classroom by the sentinels, she begins speaking. The lecture is short and to the point, with no attempts to make it interesting. There are no slides, no notes in her hand, but rather just information called up from memories of an old school report on the spot.]

The Iriomote Mountain Cat is a small wild cat living on the island of Iriomote in Okinawa Prefecture of Japan. [She doesn't bother with saying the planet name.]

Although belonging to the widespread Leopard Cat species, Iriomote cats exist only on one island, the smallest habitat for any known species of wild cat. Due to habitat destruction, fewer than one hundred remain in the wild, making it a critically endangered species. They are protected as Specified National Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora by the national government and are designated a natural monument of Okinawa.

[She continues on for a short while, covering some of the causes of the population decrease and so on. It's not a deep lecture, but she wasn't required to make it deep. This should suffice.]

Any questions?

(Post a new comment)

action;

margaretemagica
2012-09-20 04:18 am UTC (link)

[ madoka is silent most of the lecture. she has to be - it's rude to speak up when other people are talking! but even so, she pays rapt attention for homura's entire speech. she doesn't have any particular investment in the source material, of course, but... well, when the bots came to drag homura off, she didn't really have any choice but to follow, and now that homura's here there's no sense in not listening!

when homura finishes, madoka smiles up at her and claps a bit. without a hint of insincerity: ]

That was a great presentation, Homura!

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timelesspromise
2012-09-20 07:22 am UTC (link)

[It's easier to speak at the front of a classroom than it used to be for the girl, but that doesn't make it easy to keep Madoka off her mind as she was speaking, particularly with those eyes watching so carefully.

Homura turns to focus her eyes on the sentinels finally leaving her alone through the doorway, even when she responds.]

You didn't have to come. [Certainly it does make it easier to keep an eye on Madoka, especially with her movement restricted for the period of time. But the girl at least has some capabilities of defending herself now. It's no longer necessary to keep an extremely close eye on her, so long as Madoka does as she has asked.

There are probably far better uses of the time for Madoka, even if the sentinels approached Homura while she was helping the girl. But Madoka is relying on her, unable to adapt to the circumstances so easily. She'd already stayed the night in a spare bedroom at Homura's apartment, everything too new.

Maintaining a distance is necessary. Perhaps Homura cannot simply stand apart from Madoka completely, telling her to move on with her life while watching from the shadows, but she can't just become Madoka's friend again. It's not easy like that. It's not like there's a switch for her personality hiding in her back. The night was a rather sleepless for Homura. Too much is on her mind, even now, processing this all, weighing the possibilities. But she's still at a loss of what to do, able only to focus on that one emotion that's driven her for the past numerous months.

She's clung to the past so hard that she's repeated it over and over. But now that past is coming back in new ways.]

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margaretemagica
2012-09-21 05:07 am UTC (link)

[ she didn't have to come? well, no, but... she looks down and away from the other girl. truth be told, she wanted to. the two of them are all that's left - doesn't it just... make sense to stick together?

evidently not. she's already stayed with homura once, and now she just needs to get herself together so she can find another place to stay. (the bit from li about roommates rings in her mind, of course - but she quiets it down. it's not a bad idea in general, just... not with homura, and not in a prison. that's all.) ]

Sorry. It just- seemed like a good idea at the time...

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	timelesspromise 2012-09-21 06:03 am UTC (link)
	[A subtle tug turns down the corners of Homura's face at that "sorry."] An apology isn't necessary. I just thought maybe you would want to get more adjusted. [Rather than watching a ridiculous punishment.] Wasn't there a place you still wanted to look? (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	margaretemagica 2012-09-23 09:25 pm UTC (link)
	Oh, right! There was, wasn't there... [ this is just a big misunderstanding on both their ends, isn't it? she drops the subject quickly, gratefully grabbing the change offered by homura. ] Mm- it was the ones in Sector 2, I think. It looked like they had a lot of options for singles, so I figured that would be a good place to check out. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

timelesspromise
2012-09-26 01:03 am UTC (link)

[Single living...

Yes, that would be best for the girl. There's no one Homura can entrust her to, not even the Defense Force, without knowing more about everyone, time to figure out what their deeper motives are, learn their true colors.

Staying with Homura, now...

It's really not an option. Probably living together would simply destroy their friendship and any respect Madoka has left for Homura even quicker. The more time she spends around Madoka, the more likely Madoka will realize just how much she's changed and come to loath her, be disgusted at her, regret ever wanting to be Homura's friend. That distant friendship, months behind Homura, there's no way she can just let that crumble like that. Even as she asked Madoka to forget it just the day before, she can't just abandon it herself. No, it would be impossible for her to. How many times has she faltered only to push herself on with those thoughts?

Homura doesn't need to be Madoka's friend. But that doesn't mean it doesn't hurt, the confused looks of Madoka after Madoka with no familiarity, no memory of her, Madoka after Madoka being scared and avoidant of her. But even those pains are bearable. Madoka was ignorant those times out of necessity, out of the futility of telling the truth. There's no way she would believe the future those times, so optimistic and blind.

But Madoka here, now...she knows so much. She's experienced the truth, she's learned from the past. She believed Homura finally, with her 20/20 hindsight. But surely learning what Homura did, learning her coldness, that would just encourage her to be disgusted.

No; single living. That really is the best route.

It doesn't stop her from having some lingering doubts, however.

Madoka, she never knew what it was like to live alone. Her family always waiting at home, lovingly cooked hot dinners and breakfasts waiting for her, the emotional support of her mother and father, the companionship of her infant brother... It's really a life that had nothing wanting for it. Not like Mami Tomoe, not like Kyouko Sakura, and not like Homura. No, it's an enviable sort of life, surrounded by family and friends alike.

But even here now, spared at least briefly from her terrible fate, given this second chance incarcerated as she may be, she still has to adjust to living alone. Loneliness. It's not something Homura can protect her from, shelter her from. There's no way to spoil her and keep her from ever learning to adjust to reality. Not anymore.

Madoka needs to learn. She's not an innocent naive girl like she once was, even if her optimistic core could never really be tarnished except by pure exhaustion of it. No, life has already proven harsh to her. The pressures of coming home to an empty house are nothing compared to those, surely.

It's cruel, but that's all Homura knows how to be now. But if Madoka stays distant enough from her, maybe she won't have to know despair. And maybe she'll learn to be happy here.] I see.

Then, checking that out would be best.

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margaretemagica
2012-09-28 05:45 am UTC (link)

[ madoka has no idea just what's running through homura's head. she couldn't, of course - there is simply no way she could understand everything the other girl's gone through, everything she has to feel every time she looks at madoka. but it wouldn't stop her from trying: not now, not ever. if absolutely nothing else, homura deserves that much.

and as for living alone... it's not an idea she's fond of. she's never had to live alone before, never really given much thought to it, and the idea is terrifying, and awful, and depressing more than anything. she'll never have her dad's hot chocolate again. she'll never get cream stew after a long winter day. she's not going to get to drink with her mother-

she tries to stop those thoughts where they are. now's not the time to think things like that - right now, she has something important to do. she can't just keep imposing on homura like she has been, not when she's done so much for her already. so she smiles her own distant smile, discarding her previous line of thinking for the new.

(it's never worked for her. but she can always try.) ]

...will you look at it with me?

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timelesspromise
2012-09-29 03:08 am UTC (link)

[Madoka...She won't realize, will she?

It's an enticing idea and one that unsettles Homura, who curls up her fingers at her sides. How much she wishes she could have a normal life, happily wiling the hours the hours, clueless, learning the meaning of friendship. But no. She's too broken for that again. She's too far from that path. She's found a new one, the only one left to her.

Why does Madoka have to make this so hard?

There's just a tiny hint of an edge to her voice, spoken away from Madoka, but it's a quiet voice, only enough to hopefully reach Madoka and not the other "students" lingering further away in the room still.]

Why?

[She has to control things. She has to control herself.]

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margaretemagica
2012-10-01 07:24 am UTC (link)

[ that's answer enough for her. it's not a surprise, of course - homura's let her know in no uncertain terms that she's not interested in being her friend.

and yet, even as she thinks that, she's able to correct herself. no, that's not right - if anything they were muddled, hesitant. they were never quite as strongly stated as homura might like. and that means there's still a chance. doesn't it?

she'll keep believing that for now. she just needs to be patient and strong for the both of them, and she might be able to keep herself from losing the only friend she has left. she looks away from homura, smile only faltering slightly as she responds. ]

Don't worry, you don't have to. I just thought it might be easier to decide if I could ask you things about it...

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timelesspromise
2012-10-01 02:35 pm UTC (link)

[Homura, still looking away, creases her lips together. It's hard enough to force herself this way, but...it's necessary. Still, it's easy to expect Madoka to cry here, something which she doesn't want to cause, yet the girl doesn't end up doing so, saying something that could almost be logical instead.

She's silent for a long moment before speaking up again.]

If it helps you, then...

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margaretemagica
2012-10-09 12:17 am UTC (link)

I think it would, a lot.

[ she still can't look straight at homura. even if she still wants to be homura's friend, more than anything, this feels like she's imposing too much for her own comfort.

but it's something that needs to happen, at least until she finds an apartment. then she can give homura some space, at least for a little bit. ]

It shouldn't take too long! I really think this place might be it...

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	timelesspromise 2012-10-14 08:00 am UTC (link)
	Then that's fine. [She's ready to get out of this classroom as it is anyway, before another pupil asks worthless questions about a pointless presentation.] (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	margaretemagica 2012-10-14 08:31 pm UTC (link)
	[ even if it's delivered with that same sort of cold demeanor, madoka can't help but feel a little spike of gladness at that - and the grateful smile as she looks back to homura's face reflects that perfectly. ] Then let's go! [ she takes a moment's pause, long enough to check that homura has what she needs, and turns to walk to the door. ] (Reply to this) (Parent)

punching_bag
2012-09-21 03:00 am UTC (link)

[ he's taking notes of every single thing that she's saying because a mind unchallenged is a mind bound to dry up and shrivel and become a useless thing!

aka, unacceptable. After a moment, he speaks up, biting the end of his pencil. ] Why cats? There are a hundred species and more disappearing everyday. Why are cats important?

[ he's more of a Fou kind of guy. Cats and dogs just get in the way! ]

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	looking for a challenge in a bullshit lecture is probably not the best method timelesspromise 2012-09-25 11:54 pm UTC (link)
	Why not? This one is of interest to my country. [It was easier to present this one, having already done so, without having to waste time on new materials for a punishment she couldn't care less about. And now she gives a simple answer, another route down the path of least resistance. Why make it more time consuming for herself than she has to?] (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	punching_bag 2012-09-27 04:52 am UTC (link)
	Interesting, perhaps, but of interest? I have yet to here arguments for that. They're just cats. [ splitting hairs? y e p ~~Now if they could fit laser beams to their heads...~~ ] (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	timelesspromise 2012-10-08 03:01 am UTC (link)
	I am not sure why someone would attend a lecture on cats if they did not find them interesting. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	punching_bag 2012-10-17 03:47 am UTC (link)
	... You forget that all knowledge is worth something given the right time and place. I'd be a fool to pass up on a lecture! [ and he's good at multitasking if the lecture gets boring. ] (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	timelesspromise 2012-10-17 05:20 am UTC (link)
	[Pushing back her hair.] Then I guess it will be worth it in the end, will it not? (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	punching_bag 2012-10-18 04:57 pm UTC (link)
	... Yes, but you're supposed to be teaching. [ he frowns ] Didn't you study the subject matter before hand? [ he has little patience for those who don't put their all into their work. That way lies death and grief! Literally. At least for the group that Bak hangs out with. It's their inventions that could mean the life and death of an exorcist after all! ] (Reply to this) (Parent)

fauxlosophy
2012-09-23 08:38 pm UTC (link)

[ sophie-anne's wandering along, exploring as she pleases -- it's the young voice that draws her to the classroom, and then into it, to take a seat near the front.

she sits with her back very straight, keeping her eyes focused on homura, head tilting from side to side, as she collects facts that she finds interesting. her attention wanes toward the end; population decline isn't necessarily interesting so much as inevitable in many cases.

when homura seems finished, sophie-anne raises her hand but eagerly spits out her question before being called on. she can only mock the classroom setting for so long. ]

Do you know what sort of diet they have?

[ not that she's looking to allude to her vampire-nature or scare her new teacher. she just thinks that knowing how something hunts and what it eats says a lot about a creature. ]

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timelesspromise
2012-09-26 03:20 am UTC (link)

[Turning to the redhead, Homura's violet eyes watch her speak up immediately with no disruption to her flat expression. She couldn't care less about the "lecture", so just as well to get this Q&A over as soon as possible. The question of why this woman took interest stirs in her head briefly, being that the woman has to be a few years older than her, probably high school or college age, but she brushes it away.]

Mostly small animals. Probably birds, rats, and fish.

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	fauxlosophy 2012-10-01 06:00 pm UTC (link)
	You don't sound that excited about all this. [ she leans forward over her desk. ] So why the lecture? (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	timelesspromise 2012-10-08 03:06 am UTC (link)
	It was necessary. [That's all she says, pushing one of her sidelocks back to the side slightly.] (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	fauxlosophy 2012-10-08 11:31 pm UTC (link)
	What is that supposed to mean? (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	timelesspromise 2012-10-14 06:16 am UTC (link)
	I was required to present. [It's not as if that broadcast of her crime had been private, so it should be simple enough to connect, shouldn't it? The Wardens seemed to like to advertise that every morning.] (Reply to this) (Parent)

	action; cheerleader 2012-09-23 11:16 pm UTC (link)
	[ she's gone one, and she'll be raising her hand patiently, waiting to be called on. it's giving her high school flashbacks. ] (Reply to this) (Thread)

	timelesspromise 2012-09-26 03:25 am UTC (link)
	[At least she waited instead of just calling out her answer like someone else. But eventually Homura looks to the older woman with her hand up.] Yes? (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	cheerleader 2012-10-04 01:27 am UTC (link)
	While I'm sure that was fascinating and informative, what's with the speech? (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	timelesspromise 2012-10-08 03:08 am UTC (link)
	Is there something wrong with it? (Reply to this) (Parent)