6th Recipe - Scrambled Eggs [Open]

[starofpleiades]

Characters: Kazumi and You!
Setting: The cafeteria
Format: Action
Summary: Finding the issue with the languages, Kazumi decides to use the universal language: food!
Warnings: None so far

[Kazumi had never really thought that much before about the fact that everyone here could talk to each other... but now, suddenly they can't! Somehow, the Tower sounds noisier than ever as all the talking becomes a cacophony of different languages. Still, people would need to eat so... maybe they could all agree on that at least, without a need for words? Whipping up an array of dishes - casserole, curry, pastas... all unfortunately kind of orange due to the weird food dye this month - Kazumi was keeping busy. Of course, the newest addition to the kitchen wasn't helping]

Ah, Toto! Don't play with that!

[Unfortunately, the cat didn't understand Japanese any better than the kitchen workers today, so the scruffy black critter was happy to push over the canister of sugar and spill it all over the floor.]

Comments

[starofpleiades]

[It doesn't take long for Kazumi to clean everything up, and soon she's back over with a paper towel just to brush off Toto's feet as Sayaka holds him]

I'm Kazumi, by the way! I don't think I've seen you here before... are you new?

[idolizer]

I am fairly new, yes. I arrived a few days ago. [ Though some people are saying the contrary, but she doesn't remember anything. ]

My name is Sayaka. Maizono Sayaka. [ She manages another smile. ] It's nice to meet you.

[starofpleiades]

Nice to meet you, Sayaka! Eheh... you share a name with another girl in the tower I know, though you two aren't really much alike, so it probably won't be a problem.

So, you like cats?

[idolizer]

Really? I hope to meet her. [ They're roomates actually, but never really talked yet, so Sayaka doesn't know. ]

I like all animals in general, but cats and rabbits have a special place in my heart. [ Who doesn't like bunnies and kitties?? ]

[starofpleiades]

Heh, well, she's kind of tomboyish and has blue hair! And she's a puella magi like me! [what is secret identities]

I've never had a pet bunny, but that would be really cute too!

[idolizer]

... Puella Magi?

[ HOLD THE PRESSES, she never heard of that term before. ] Is it the name of a group...?

[starofpleiades]

Um, well... it means magical girl!

[idolizer]

... You're a real magical girl? One of those with magical powers who can transform? [ What do you mean they don't exist only in anime?! ]

[starofpleiades]

Well, pretty much! Though it's not really like it is in anime...

[idolizer]

[ ... Tilting her head. ] What do you mean it's not like in anime? How is it different?

[starofpleiades]

Ah... um, well. It's actually kind of scarier. When we make a contract to become magical girls, we're granted one wish in exchange for being tasked with fighting witches. But... the Soul Gems from which our magic comes from are our actual souls. And if we use too much magic without cleaning them and they become too corrupted... we'll turn into witches.

[idolizer]

...

[ Their actual souls... that's no similar trope she ever saw in those flashy anime of her childhood. ]

Is it painful then...?

[starofpleiades]

No... I mean, not when we make the contract. I... don't know if it hurts when you become a witch. It's scary though...

[idolizer]

I mean, also emotionally painful. [ ... maybe that's too far of a stretch, she realizes. ] I'm sorry if I seem like I'm prying.

[starofpleiades]

I...

...we didn't know at the time. None of us did.

[idolizer]

[ ...

If she didn't have a kitty in her hands, she would have put a hand on the girl's shoulder. ]

I'm sorry.

[starofpleiades]

It's okay. I mean, it's cruel but... we're all going to work together to put a stop to that system! And make sure no other girl ever suffers and becomes a witch again.

[idolizer]

Is this... system forcing you to be puella magi inside this tower, per chance? [ of course she doesn't know of the kyubey or how it works. ]

[starofpleiades]

Well, I mean... there's no witches to fight here, but I'm still a puella magi. So I still... have to take care of my soul gem, or I'll become a witch. That's why I can't use my power much.

[idolizer]

And there are other girls here with your same situation, you said... [ All the things she learned from magical girls shows were a lie, huh. ]

[starofpleiades]

Yeah, there are a few others. Luckily, there's a man named Enoch who can purify our Soul Gems but even still, we have to be careful.

[idolizer]

Enoch? Ah, I met him on the first day. [ He was very kind to her, although mysterious in a weird way. ] If you can turn to him for that, it makes things a bit simpler I guess.

[starofpleiades]

Yeah, I mean, without him we'd be in a lot of trouble otherwise.

Eheh, but enough of that... um, what sort of things did you do before coming here, Sayaka?

[idolizer]

[ Right, onto a... happier subject... haha. That question makes her chest tighten, but her pokerface can still hold as she scratches Toto gently under his chin - she's still holding the kitty. ]

I was a pretty popular idol. I had a great career ahead of me, you see. [ Brief pause. ] I kind of miss it right now. [ Understantement of the year. ]

[starofpleiades]

[Toto appreciates it]

Wow, an Idol? That's amazing! Eheh... you are really pretty. [Kazumi makes a determined fist-pump] I'm sure we'll be able to fix this all somehow, and you can get back to that!