Voice

[potentite]

[This is a very shy voice you're getting.]

Um, hello? Ah, um, pardon my interloping in your thoughts here but, ummm... I believe we've found the source of that frightful cloudburst we've been having. It appears those ornery blue fiends are causing quite the brouhaha from their literal cooler. They seem a mite bit peeved.

[A beat.]

I, um— I don't have any suggestions, I just— I thought everyone should know.

[Another pause.]

Sooo... that's all.


[ooc: for anyone interested in exploring this with jake in a (backdated to before this post!) top level, here you go!]

Comments

[soulcomet]

That is a good point.

[see? totally smart. and it makes sense to her, that he would know — he's probably seen all manner of wild animals and monsters of all sizes, just trying to survive. all Madoka has ever known is a sprawling Japanese metropolis.]

I wish we had a better idea of what it is they really want. That way nobody'd have to fight.

[potentite]

Me too... [Actually, that makes him wonder.] Do you think we could use telepathy? Um, I mean— If we could get one of these signet whatsits we have in us on one of them?

[soulcomet]

That's a great idea! Then we could see right away how they think — it'd give us something to work with.

I think your magic could really help out there, too, Jake-san.

[potentite]

[Oh. What?] Huh? I— What, you really think so?

[soulcomet]

I do. You can increase the chances of something happening, right?

I think ... you could easily come up with a way to give us a better chance of understanding them, if you wanted.

[potentite]

[Madoka has a point but it still flusters him.]

Ah... well, um, yes. I would certainly give it my all to make that come true.

[soulcomet]

[it's a bit funny, how he almost reminds her of Homura. Madoka hopes she sounds less overly enthusiastic and more gently encouraging.]

And I'll be here to cheer you on. You'll let me know if I can help you, right?

[potentite]

Oh, yes, of course! I'm sure your support will help us an awful lot! Um, your healing and your, um, monster fighting? [He recalls that much.]

[soulcomet]

... Something like that, yes! They're sort of like ... bad dreams that turn into monsters.

[it still feels a little weird describing Nightmares to others, if only because nobody back home would ever believe her. not the case here.]

[potentite]

So nightmares, huh? Goodness gracious. I would rather deal with the island's monsters than the ones cooked up in my noggin. They're even more unpleasant.

[And usually more abstract, making them impossible to 'kill' and thus terrible.]

[soulcomet]

[can his nightmares be fed cake, though - that's the most important factor.]

[her tone takes on a note of worry, here.]

If it helps at all, I've never met a Nightmare I couldn't handle.

[potentite]

[They could totally be fed cake. But aw.]

Oh, I'm certain you could! [And it's sincere. Even though he hasn't personally seen her fight, the fact that she's here is proof enough.] I bet you're a real firecracker once you're in a scrum. Not just your prowess at fisticuffs, mind you, I just mean, um... your demeanor strikes me as the sort not to give up.

[soulcomet]

[if this weren't a conversation through telepathy, Jake would see that she's turned as pink as her hair, whoops.]

I guess so ... I started doing this because I wanted to help people - so I don't mind doing what I have to.

[she pauses.]

Um ... I don't know what sort of things you've been facing here or at home, but ... I pronise you that you won't have to face any of your nightmares alone. Okay? [she wouldn't dream of letting him - they're friends now, in her eyes.]

[potentite]

[Oh. Similarly, Jake's flush, though it'd be harder to tell even in person with his darker skin.]

Well... gosh, it goes for you, too, okay? Um... I just— I'm not sure if I'm all that reliable yet but... I wouldn't abandon you.

[soulcomet]

What you just said sounded pretty reliable, Jake-san. I trust you.

[potentite]

[He thinks if she knew him better, she wouldn't. But he doesn't have the heart to say that in the face of her kindness, either. He just has to try to be worth it.]

Egads, you'd give me a run for my money with your optimism! Um, not that that's a bad thing in the slightest! It's refreshing, honestly, to hear it so sincere.

[soulcomet]

[she would. even if Jake does manage to find a way to betray her, she'd probably continue trusting him anyway. it's ... both a strength and a flaw of hers.]

It's the truth, that's all. Um ... How have you been lately, though? [it's been a little while, after all.]

[potentite]

Oh, um, well... All right, I suppose? It's been... really neat to walk around a city! Even if the crowds make me a mite skittish, seeing people all around just, um, going about their lives? It's cool. And, um, I saw a movie for the first time! I mean in a theater. And, um... had popcorn for the first time. I've had a load of new foods for the first time, actually.

[Even though he's shy, his enthusiasm still comes through.]

[soulcomet]

Really? I love trying new foods! And there's so many different kinds here, it feels like I haven't been able to try even half of them.

What sort of things did you have to eat back home?

[potentite]

Oh, gosh, um... fruits! Like apples and oranges and limes and bananas... and sometimes some canned stuff like beans and corn? Grandma had squirreled away some canned goods. And then if I was hankering for something a little more substantial, I took a risk fishing.

[soulcomet]

Ah ... It sounds like you really have had a lot of new things to try.

[she can't imagine what it must be like to have to risk fighting monsters just to get a meal.]

We eat a lot of seafood back home, so it's not too hard to find things I'm familiar with here. Um ... I'd be happy to make you lunch sometime, if you want?

[potentite]

I— Really? You'd, um, you'd want to do that for me? [It's so kind that it truly touches him.] I mean, golly, I— If it's not putting you out, I mean... I'd love that.

[soulcomet]

It's no trouble at all! I'm not nearly as good a cook as my papa is, but there's a lot here that I can work with.

Plus, it'll be fun to spend time together.

[potentite]

I bet you're a terrific cook! And, um, well... that would be lovely. Um, spending time together, I mean! I'd... like getting to know you better. You're really nice and interesting.

[He hopes that isn't weird to say.]

[soulcomet]

[earlier she matched her hair. now she matches her hair ribbons.]

I don't know if I'm all that interesting ... but, I feel the same way - I'd like to get to know you better, too.

What do you think about lunch in a day or two? I can round up some things to cook now.