977/Reintroductions

Reintroductions
Date of Scene:	07 January 2024
Location:	Midori-Ya Cafe
Synopsis:	Madoka and Mamoru run into each other at Midori-Ya and definitely have some catching up to do! Madoka is secretly Hope Blossom! And Mamoru is definitely not Hematite anymore~
Cast of Characters:	Mamoru Chiba, Madoka Kaname

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Mamoru Chiba has posed:
It's the last Sunday before school starts again after Winter Break, and some people definitely used it to sleep in, and others definitely used it to glory in daylight that isn't used up by school hours. It's impossible to tell which camp 'Darien Shields' is in, since he's definitely at the counter ordering a large coffee, but also a big bag of choice pastries.

He's gotten a haircut since the last time Madoka's seen him, short back and sides and fluffy on top, and it suits him better than the ponytail ever did; he's also not overdressed, wearing jeans and a white button-down under a blazer-length leather jacket, and dress shoes. There are still glasses. All this is obvious as he turns around, looking down as he balances plate, coffee, and pastry bag carefully on his way to a window table.

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    The last time that Madoka Kaname saw 'Darien Shields', he was hunting a Witch with his girlfriend and asking if dark energy would work on such a creature. She's actually not sure if the boy actually knew the connection between Madoka and Hope Blossom, yet he was generous enough to tell her his own secret ID.

    So it was that when she walked into the Midori-ya for a quick pastry stop, with two hungry Chara floating around her, she stopped in her tracks upon seeing the boy. Her feelings were... conflicted. On the one hand, this was one of her enemies, right? On the other... it was hard to really consider him a foe. She worked with him more often than against.

    Seeing that 'Darien' isn't really causing trouble, she decides that she isn't going to start any either. With a smile, the pinkette walked towards the counter of the Midori-Ya, getting in line behind him.

    "Hey... it's been a while," she starts. "Made any new Clock App shorts, lately?"

    Lydian and Sio, the two Chara, blinked at each other. There was a reference here that they were missing.

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
Looking up, the tall boy blinks. "Kaname-san! No," he laughs, and then he brightens. "Oh I have good news, come sit with me when you've got your order-- I'm on your team, finally! And I haven't met these two yet, have I? I don't think I have. Anyway, I have to put these down, I'm just asking for a spill like this."

He picks a seat by the window, a four person table since it's not too crowded in here right now and other mahous do tend to congregate, and by the time Madoka's got her order, he's sitting down with his to-go cup's lid off and a knife and fork prepared to deal with the big goopy cinnamon snail he's got on his plate. There is definitely a chair across from him.

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    "On my team?" repeats Madoka. That's... news. She glances towards Lydian and Sio and then shakes her head. "No, but you've met Brai and... I know Gretchen-chan has complained loudly about Emus at some point. I was never sure if she was talking about you or not." For whatever reason, Madoka takes this claim at face value. Maybe it's because Mamoru is really sincere.

    Not wanting to interfere with his... burden of pastries, she steps aside to let him pass, and then walks up to the counter. Her Chara seem more eager than her to get sweet snacks, but she's the one who actually makes the order. Deciding to accept the invitation, Madoka takes the ordered pastries over to the table. Sio has a donut, and Lydian ordered a cherry turnover. The Chara Bearer herself has ordered a chocolate-filled taiyaki fish.

    Madoka does most of the talking, at least at first. Her tiny fairies seem content to eat bready sugary foods as large as they are. "So... you're not with Obsidian anymore? I bet your girlfriend is really happy about that. I know I've already mentioned being a magical girl before, but we've actually worked together recently. I'm Hope Blossom. Er... the girl with the pink arrows. We hunted that Witch that wanted to steal the fake Silver Crystal."

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
Some coffee to wash down a big forkful of gooey pastry, and Mamoru puts his fork down after looking attentive at Madoka's question, and her revelation. His face clears, gaze going briefly to Lydian at the knowledge, and he smiles. "That makes sense! Thanks for seeing that through, it was my first Witch and I did not like it."

Then he lifts a finger briefly. "That's other news -- the real Silver Crystal's been found, and it's safe with my girlfriend. Who is, yes, very glad I'm out of Obsidian. She helped me get my guys out, too-- the other guys with rock names." He says a little hilariously confidentially, "I am so glad I don't have to deal with dark energy anymore, it was really uncomfortable and encouraged really bad judgement calls."

It's so funny it doesn't even occur to him that Madoka might not have taken him at face value -- that's going to be interesting the first time he runs into someone who doesn't just believe sincerity when it shows up on someone's face.

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    "You did pretty well for your first time!" says Madoka. Thinking back, that makes sense. Hematite didn't really seem to know how things worked in there. Fortunately there were guides. The other news about the Silver Crystal and his friends brightens up her face, too. The notion that dark energy causes some bad judgment calls both confirms and sheds new light on some of the theories she's had, though it does make her frown for a moment when she considers Gretchen.

    "So... are you still able to keep yourself safe? I mean, I'm sure your girlfriend can protect you from a lot, but I hope you aren't completely powerless now." The pinkette isn't really sure how that works. She has... fuzzy memories from past timelines, but not enough to really piece together meaningful intel.

    Sio actually asks the question on Madoka's mind. "Does having dark energy make you particularly miserable? We ask because someone we care about is dealing with that right now. She keeps insisting that it's not as simple as purifying her, but she's not really sharing what he actual problem is."

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
"Haha, thanks!" he says about the Witch, and then, "I'm not completely powerless, no," Mamoru assures Madoka. "I have a new henshin, Tuxedo Kamen -- I still have a cape, but I'm better at dodging now. Mostly I'm a healer, even if I'm not as good as that one angry blue-haired sword girl at it."

He blinks at Sio, then looks thoughtful as he holds up a finger and chews another mouthful for a moment. Then he says after swallowing, "It makes me particularly miserable, but I know someone who's relationship with it is complicated. I'm pretty sure I'm allergic to it. But I can tell you that it literally never helps. It makes negative feelings get blown out of proportion and also feeds on them, so that the more unhappy you can get the more power you can have, sort of? For a lot of people, it's not as simple as purification. Purification doesn't inherently change you. If you're convinced that dark energy is the only way you have enough power to do what you want to do, you'll just go back and get more of it. If you're inherently a jerk, you'll still be a jerk. If you're hurting badly, purification won't fix that, either."

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    Madoka is relieved that Mamoru isn't just helpless, though it sounds like his exact combat role has changed. The reference to Sayaka being 'the angry blue haired girl' causes her to glance awkwardly off to the side. She's chewing food at the moment, which spares her from having to respond right away.

    "Sharpsong-chan is... really more of a self-healer that I've seen. I'm actually a little fuzzy on what Puella Magi can do. I do know one who's a more dedicated healer, though she has a rough time in combat."

    Sio, Madoka and Lydian listen to Mamoru's thoughtful response regarding dark energy. It clarifies a few things, though some of the things he says makes her a little sad. Lydian, the artistic fairy, is actually the one who responds. "I don't think that Gretchen-chan is naturally a jerk, but I do think she's very upset and lashes out quickly because of it."

    Sio chimes in, "She doesn't really seem to be using it to gain power, either."

    Madoka shakes her head. "She is, but not to terrorize others or be mean. To her it's more like... life support. Using her magic had a negative effect on a few of us, too."

    The pink Chara Bearer has to consider the tall boy's response. She could not possibly be getting this input from a better source. Then, with a smile, she says, "Sorry, it's just been on our minds recently. I'm glad that you and your friends have managed to get away from that. It doesn't sound very nice."

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
"Sharpsong? I'm sorry," Mamoru has the grace to look somewhat abashed. "I should have known that you knew her. All I really knew of was her yelling at me and her healing in battle. I'm sure she's very different when not dealing with a Dark General."

He listens while eating some more of his cinnamon snail, then tilts his head slightly. "Gretchen...?" he asks, trailing off; it seems that even if Gretchen met Hematite, he didn't catch her name. "Using her magic? If it's dark energy, it'll definitely have a negative effect... if there's any other source she can get power from, I would encourage that instead. I understand if there isn't, though. I have a friend who knows about magic but can't use it, and it's endlessly frustrating for her."

He smiles a little, small and reserved. "It wasn't nice, so-- I'm glad too. And don't be sorry about asking for information. If you want to ask the other guys, who would probably have different perspectives on it, I can see if they're up for talking about it."

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    Madoka laughs somewhat awkwardly when Mamoru mentions Sharpsong being 'very different' in other contexts. "W-well, I mean, she's always been nice to me. I think the fact that she might have to get into conflicts with your coworkers puts her in a certain mindset. I prefer to get along when I can, but that's not always an option when they're stealing hearts or whatever."

    A friend who can't use magic, but is aware of it? There aren't that many like that. Naru comes to mind. Hinoiri, who totally can't use magic as far as Madoka knows, does as well. "Well, whatever she does, tell her to stay away from Kyubey. I still don't trust him. As for alternate sources, well..."

    Madoka holds out her hand, and Lydian settles into it. "Gretchen-chan is like these two. She's one of my Chara. Technically, she's an X-Chara, which means that she's been corrupted by dark energy. It's... complicated, but these little fairies are representations of my dreams of who I want to be. Technically, she does have her own magic. A lot of it, in fact. It's just... she can't really use it as she is now, and if she doesn't have something then she'll fall asleep and turn back into an egg."

    "I think she doesn't want that, because she's trying to create some ideal set of conditions that only she really understands."

    After considering it for a moment, Madoka glances at Mamoru and says, "Maybe... if they can help. She keeps her own counsel about such things, though."

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
Mamoru just nods to Madoka's explanation of Sharpsong, since he's almost done with his giant pastry and really, no notes on what she said. It is perfectly reasonable to be angry at Dark Generals and their coworkers. When she gets to Kyubey, he nods again; he has some more coffee before dutifully repeating, "No Kyubeys. I'll pass that on."

He listens quite attentively (though he does take the opportunity to finish his cinnamon roll) to Madoka's explanation, and then he frowns slightly as he puts his knife and fork down on his plate, ready for him to take to the little bin by the door. "I see," he says, and he thinks for a moment. "I don't know if there's anything I can do to help, but if I--"

The boy stops, then blinks. "Wait. Does Gretchen have a big mask and wander off by herself? If so, I think I have met her. She's delightful! If I see her again, may I offer to try and help? I wouldn't want to fall asleep forever, either."

Madoka Kaname has posed:
    It never once occurs to her that Madoka and Mamoru might know the same person, so she doesn't bring it up. That's an interesting/amusing moment for later. She doesn't press it any further.

    Upon hearing that the boy can't do much, Madoka feels... maybe not let down persay, but it adds an angle to her problem. Maybe Gretchen is right and she really can't solve it that easily. "I guess I was hoping that the dark energy was clouding her judgment, and that it's actually not as dire as she claims, but the evidence I keep seeing points to her being right."

    Upon Mamoru's description of Gretchen, she actually brightens up. He finds her delightful? That's so sweet. "Yeah, that's her. She comes around sometimes, but she doesn't live with me like my other Chara do. I'm sure she'd welcome the help, even it's just to have another friend on her side."

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
Mamoru takes a little notebook and a clicky-pen out of his pocket, and scribbles down a number and name-- then thinks twice and puts another name above it and crosses it out. "The dark energy could be clouding her judgement, but if the situation is as dire as she claims, purifying her shouldn't actually do anything other than hurt a lot in the moment -- because she can just go back to using the dark energy again. I think it's worth trying. Here's my number-- and my real name--"

He tears out the little notepad's sheet and slides it across the table: Darien Shields is crossed out and Mamoru Chiba written underneath. "And you can give me a call if she comes around by you before I run into her. I can't purify, so she doesn't have to worry about that."

Then he finishes off his coffee and stands up, smiling. "It was good to see you again, and I hope we get to work together without the complications. I have to go take the sacrificial pastry to my girlfriend and her roommate, so-- see you soon!"

With that, he cleans up after himself and takes the pastry bag with him, waving when he goes out the door.