piratejournal | 002 - Voice (Action for crewmates)

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002 - Voice (Action for crewmates)

[ It's hard to write when your fingers are freezing. After a few unsuccessful tries, Homura opts to go for a voice entry instead, keeping her teeth from chattering through sheer force of will alone. ]

This explains why the Backwater Brig's advertisement last week contained a disclaimer about anti-curse apparel. Perhaps the shopkeeper knew this unnatural cold, or something like it, was coming.

Has anyone found a way to warm up yet? The usual methods aren't working. Any information would be appreciated.

[ That's the extent of Homura's entry. Her crewmates won't find her in her usual spot in the crow's nest; instead, she's holed up in her room, cocooned in her blankets with only her face showing... for all the good that it does her. ]

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I doubt any more sun or tea will help. Nothing else has so far.

[ The basket gets a curious glance, but nothing else, because Homura can't help but stare a little at how pale Mami's lips are, even though she herself probably doesn't look much better. And while Homura marvels a little at how Mami can look so cheerful at a time like this, she doesn't smile back. It's nothing personal- she simply hasn't found much to smile about, lately. ]

[ Homura doesn't move when Mami approaches the bed- she doesn't even have to make room, since it was large enough to hold both her and Madoka without feeling cramped. She DOES hesitate slightly when Mami asks, but eventually nods. ]

... sure. If you're okay with it, I mean.

I reckon it's true. Still if it fails to warm our bodies... it could at least warm our hearts.

[Mami smiles gently at Homura as she sits down on the bed. Then she opens the basket and pulls out two mugs, some hot tea in a tea pot and a plate containing biscuits. She closes the picnic basket again and puts it on the floor before them, before setting the tea pot and the plate on top of it. Then she hands a mug to Homura.]

Would you please have some tea with me, Homura-san?

I...

[ Mami's invitation is met with a frozen silence. Homura's expression shifts by a mere fraction, becoming something brittle and fragile as she stares blankly at the mug in Mami's hands. ]

[ Homura, Madoka, and Mami... they used to gather at the older girl's apartment for snacks and tea after battling Witches, back when Homura was in awe of the two magical girls, and later, when she herself joined their ranks. Back then, everything seemed so simple and clear. ]

[ When did it all start to go wrong? ]

[ The awkward moment passes. Not trusting herself to speak, forgetting that she's absolutely freezing, Homura takes the mug from Mami and sips it slowly. Her expression unreadable, she savors the tea though it does nothing to warm her up. ]

Thank you. It's... it's very good. Where did you find this brew?

I bought it on la Isla Empieza, with some of the money they gave us.

[Mami remembers tea parties back home too. Probably not the same ones Homura does, for obvious reasons. But those memories fill her soul with the same peaceful and nostalgic feelings.]

It is good, yes. I've noticed tea always tastes better when it is shared.

[ ... well. She can drink to that, at least. ]

It really does. I had no idea that Isla Empieza even carries tea of this caliber.

[ Homura takes another sip, savoring the flavor- though, well. ]

Too bad it's not doing very much about this cursed cold.

Maybe I got lucky that time.

[Mami takes a sip as well.]

The tea alone can't, you're right. But sitting next to each other while drinking tea could, if what I've read about this curse is true.

[As she says that, she moves to sit closer to the other girl, their elbows barely touching.]

Perhaps.

[ Homura stiffens up as Mami sidles closer, both in surprise and also because- well, even her elbow growing warmer is noticeable, now that it's so cold. ]

... yes. I confirmed it with Zeref earlier, and it's the only cure I've heard after consulting the journals.

[ After a moment, despite the clinically detached tone behind her words, she cautiously leans in, gradually increasing the surface area of their contact. ]

[She notices that the other girl stiffens up. She almost pulls away when Homura starts leaning in, she does the same.]

I heard this cure is only temporary, unfortunately. But any reprieve is good to take, don't you think?

Even a temporary cure is better than the possibility of freezing to death. We can't expect to be productive if we're too busy shivering in our bunks.

[ This is an excellent excuse to lean in a little bit more, relaxing not because it feels good or anything so base as that, but because it's the logical thing to do. ]

How does it feel for you, Tomoe-san?

That's very true. We can't take not being productive at all for an extended period of time.

[The question seems to surprise Mami at first. But after a few seconds she offers her teammate a bright smile.]

Warm and... rather pleasant, I would say.

[Indeed her muscles that were all tensed due to the cold start relaxing. The shivers stop. But there's not only that. Homura and her are helping each other out. That's what friends do. That's a very satisfying and pleasant feeling.]

What about you, Homura-san?

[ Homura relaxes, too. It's a relief to stop shivering. She hesitates, though, before raising her voice in an uncharacteristically shy murmur: ]

It feels much the same for me.

[ It would be better if Madoka were here with them, but- no. She's not nearly so tactless as to blurt out something like that. Friends... well, they don't say that kind of thing. She can't help but look vaguely melancholy, though, so she changes the subject. ]

Have you talked to the other magical girls in this world yet, Tomoe-san?

Actually, yes. I did. A very nice girl called Hajime Ichinose. She says she's not a Magical Girl but a Gatchaman. Though it seems pretty similar to me.

...She's also the first person who told me you and Madoka-san were here upon my arrival on Isla Empieza.

... really. You've spoken with Hajime Ichinose, too? She was also the one who told me that Madoka was here.

[ She blinks, tilting her head in confusion. ]

I did not know that she's a... Gatchaman. Did she tell you what that even is?

She really is a very kind and helpful person. [There's a soft expression on Mami's features as she's reminded of Hajime. She's one of the first people she's talked to upon being brought into this world. She's wondering how she's doing now... Is she even still in this world?] I wonder how she's doing. Maybe I should try and contact her via this journal we've been given?

[Mami is a discreet person, good at keeping the things she's told to herself. But Homura is her friend and her teammate, so she's okay to share the information she has with her. Homura would do the same with her, right?]

Hajime-san explained that her powers were given to her and to her teammates by an alien named JJ. He trapped each of their souls into a notebook and the Gatchaman uses it to transform. Notes seem to be pretty similar our soul gems. JJ can also use those notebooks to send them on missions. Fighting other aliens mostly.

You should. I'm sure she'll be happy to hear from you; that's the kind of person she is.

[ Outgoing and kind, almost to a fault. That girl reminds her a lot of... well. Anyway. Homura IS planning to share information with Mami, but she's not certain if this is the right time to do it. She doesn't want to ruin the calm, peaceful atmosphere of their conversation right now, so she simply listens as Mami explains the whole Gatchaman concept to her. ]

[ ... she tries not to look overly cynical at the comparison to soul gems. Mami doesn't know about that whole debacle yet. ]

I had no idea she was caught up in battles like ours. And she... knows nothing about Kyubey?

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002 - Voice (Action for crewmates)

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