View source for 2984/Wish Factory: Putting Pieces Together

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2026/03/20
|Location=The Shed
|Synopsis=After the model auditions, Chibiusa, Rei, and Veronica-via-Usagi have plenty to share about what Kyubey - and Hawkmoth - are up to. Various ideas are thrown around about what they can possibly do about it.
|Cast of Characters=43,107,72,266,38,270,52,295,150,41
|Tinyplot=Wish Factory
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:43|Usagi Tsukino (43)}} has posed:'''<br>On a pleasant afternoon, when classes have been completed and schedules are clear, an open invitation is shared to gather in the Shed and learn. <br><br>Those who ventured to the modeling auditions and realized Kyubey was present amidst crowd were there when Chibiusa, the disguised Veronica, and Rei received an invitation to audition again, and now, those auditions are completed. It's time, once more, for information to be shared, and the Shed is prepared in a square shape, rather than a typical classroom style, everyone gathered to be able to face one another. <br><br>There's some shortbread cookies, juice, and wrapped onigiri, each on separate plates (or in a jug) to avoid cross contamination, and when people enter, Usagi is there at the door, phone to her ear. <br><br>"Hey, hey, go on in, Sarek-chan had something to share, I'll be in, I'm listening, go ahead!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:107|Amy Faust (107)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Amy steps out of the door to the Zone holding a rocket pistol (with trigger discipline, of course.) She dehenshins to her jacket over a color T-shirt, mottled grey skirt, and leggings with a black and pink pattern on them. She nods and smiles in greeting to folks, "Oh hi! Ooh we're all set up here..." She picks up a cookie and an onigiri to nibble on and listens to see what Veronica has to say first.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:72|Rei Hino (72)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Rei Hino walked in, a red jacket with ever so slight imprinted fire motifs on the edges that you have to be pretty close to even see on her body now, over a Radiant Heart Academy Uniform. She nodded at Usagi. "Ooooh man, alright. I guess I probably get to start then..." Rei began, stretching out with her fingers interlocked over her head. "I'll wait for everybody to arrive, though."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:266|Miho Inada (266)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Miho nods her head to Usagi as she enters the Shed. Her mind is a bit distracted by the comment Entrapta had said. That Miho's judgement of her own magic is off. But that is a thought for another time. There be rats that need dealing with. Especially the evil comsic horror type. This makes Miho pause for a second...Is Kyubey mini version of Cthulu? Wait, no. That would make Kyubey more octopus then rat...or is it a cat?<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Either way, Miho is here to find out what's going on. She is working on becoming more active, and being more available to help out with things. Miho looks at the cookies. Does she dare? Well, not yet. She needs un-cookie'd mind at the moment. Today, she's got on a cropped white t-shirt, with tight black jeans, and a light blue spring jacket on. She finds a spot in the back. She wants to focus on what's said.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:38|Mamoru Chiba (38)}} has posed:'''<br>Mamoru's next to filter in, not already having been there for once. He's wearing a plain light blue buttondown under his leather jacket, and black jeans, and expensive shoes and glasses, AND, yes, his hair is dyed again: green tips on one side, blue on the other. He definitely kisses the side of Usagi's head on the way in. "Rei-san, Amy-chan," he greets them on his way to the onigiri. "Inada-san."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:270|Chibiusa Tsukino (270)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Chibiusa walks into the classroom with Luna-P balanced on her head and her book bag in her hands. She's not doing anything to ''keep'' the catball stable, it's just... there. Autobalanced.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She walks up to one of the desks, places her bag on top, and then Luna-P on the bag, and then stands on the chair to increase her height and therefore perceived authority. She points dramatically at the roof and says, "I saw it too! I saw the whole thing! It was pretty crazy."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Planting her hands on her hips, she tilts her head and says, "I'll wait my turn though. Since people wanna talk."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:52|Ikiko Hisakata (52)}} has posed:'''<br>Ikiko arrives with a small notepad and a pencil, ready to take notes. She snags a couple of snacks before sitting down -- helping the strays of Tokyo can work up an appetite, and she had headed here directly after dropping off the food bowls at the Animal Care Club's room.<br><br>There's a few nods given to those she's familiar with, but her focus is on the food and the upcoming info.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:295|Roman Talleday (295)}} has posed:'''<br>Having swapped out the school blazer for a denim jacket with several patches, Roman had almost gon to the arcade instead. Unfortunately, Darjeela insisted that he come to the Shed and learn about what was going on, and to help his friends since he wasn't able to investigate that audition business. <br><br>(Well, Roman thought that he might have made for a very cute applicant and have some fun, but it was discouraged by Oolong who insisted it be taken very seriously.) <br><br>A small salute to Usagi first, given she's on the phone, and no sooner than that, his gaze settles on the snacks. He finds himself an onigiri before anything else, and the teacup earring he has sways with a jingle. <br><br>"Roman! Don't eat before you greet, Sti-stir!" <br><br>That keeps his mouth from being stuffed with rice, just long enough. "Amy-chan, Adrien-san, Miho-chan. Ikiko-chan--" He squints at the others he doesn't know. "... Other fine people. Oi, Mamoru-san! Cool hair." <br><br>Now the onigir half disappears.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:150|Adrien Agreste (150)}} has posed:'''<br>A tall blonde slips in not long after the others. A hoodie is pulled up over his head hiding him for only so long as it takes to get inside. Adrien was being far more cautious about coming to the Shed now that he knew what he knew about his father. Both hands rise to push the hood back letting his hair free from the confines of cotton so he can instead fully look around those gathered in the room with a tight smile.<br><br>"I hope everyone's all right, too?" He asks with a glance that shifts from Rei to Amy to Chibiusa questioningly. He might have said more given his concern over the situation, but ther ewas food, and he was a teen that had shot up in height this past year. His appetite had increased enough that he sidesteps to the table to snag an onigiri for himself.<br><br>A higher pitched voice hovering near him inquires, "What, no cheese? Laaaame."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:41|Rashmi Terios (41)}} has posed:'''<br>Rashmi slipped in shortly after Adrien, smiling brightly and bobbing her head as she passed Usagi, and waving at the assembled mahou.<br> <br>Before browsing the snacks table, however, she located an open desk and set her bag next to it, arranging notebook and pencils. Note-taking first, food *second.* This is already a large enough gathering that notes will *need* to be first priority.<br> <br>Only then does she allow herself an onigiri and cup of juice, heading back to 'her' desk and dropping into the seat. "Hey everyone," she says quietly, attention already locking in on Sarek at the front of the 'class.'<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:43|Usagi Tsukino (43)}} has posed:'''<br>As everyone filters in and begins to greet one another, Usagi keeps half an ear on them and half on the conversation, offering quiet understanding noises to Veronica, and at one point, shuddering in horror before she says, voice soft with understanding, "Yeah, I get it now, Sarek-chan. Thanks for telling me, and - and good luck with your dad, okay?" <br><br>She hangs up and looks down, shaking her head with a grimace. There are some things you wouldn't wish on anyone, especially your friends. <br><br>Then, she gathers herself and enters the Shed proper, shutting the door for everyone. <br><br>"Right, Rei-chan, you wanted to start, right? Sarek-chan said that she can't make it, but she - she told me her side of what happened, and I'll share with everyone once we get the first person views?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:72|Rei Hino (72)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Rei nods at Chibiusa and smiles. "Well, that just means you can keep me honest and speak up about anything I miss saying! There's a lot, anyways." she says, holding up a slender finger and winking to Chibiusa with a grin.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She paces around a little bit as people filter in. Once everyone is settled and there seems to be no more relatively on time arrivals, Rei stands up. First, daintily dabbing a fleck of rice from her mouth with a napkin from a bite of onigiri she absolutely annhilated, she walks to the front of the room. She passes Usagi on the way and nods. "Yeah, you can add anything I miss."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Okay. Well. You know those idol contest fliers we've seen popping up? Some of us went kind of as something-to-do, and... well, long story short, they're an Obsidian plot because we can't have nice things in Tokyo." she begins.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"But obviously that's not like, call-a-meeting-worthy information, Obsidian does annoying things all the time. But the other problem is who was there with Obsidian, and in on it - it was a little white rat we all know as Kyubey." she begins.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"The auditions are being run by an overdressed Obsidian guy you may or may not have met named Hawk Moth, who I think is a Director - but Kyubey is there too - and they seem to be working together. And... they're looking for someone to make a wish, because Hawk Moth has a loved one, I think he said wife, who is in some sort of a coma, and he wants someone to make a Puella wish to bring her back - and then he'll offer them a bunch of money and a future as a top model to do it."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She folds her hands across her chest. "So yeah... pretty big stuff, and if Obsidian's working with Kyubey that's gonna be a new problem, too."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:270|Chibiusa Tsukino (270)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Small Lady listens to Usagi with an unusually patient frown. She doesn't need to be pushy because she knows she's getting her turn. Plus she's standing on a chair so she may as well make use of the added height.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Of course, Rei goes first and Chibiusa listens, crossing her arms and taking in the details that her investigation with Veronica and Amy didn't reveal.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Huh... so the Client is Hawkmoth. That was a detail we didn't get to hear before." She scratches her chin, and then dramatically points at the ceiling. "I can back up everything Rei-chan just said, though. Kyubey is working with the talent agency and The Client, who I guess is Hawkmoth, is ''knowingly'' working with him to search for a potential Puella to make a Wish."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"The name was... Who was it again?" She turns to Luna-P, who poofs into a cue card that Chibiusa takes into her hands. "Oh, right! Mademoiselle Paonne. That's who it was. Anyways, Hawkmoth can obviously see Kyubey but the two CEO's can't. They're probably innocent of dark magic crimes."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:41|Rashmi Terios (41)}} has posed:'''<br>Scribble scribble, scribble scribble scribble.<br> <br>Rashmi's pencil works furiously to keep up with Rei and Chibiusa, and she can't really allow herself to *process* the information until it's put down in -- weirdly ornate, heavily shorthanded -- writing.<br> <br>When the writing is done, however, and the *implications* allowed to sink in... Rashmi looks up, horrified. "Hawkmoth?! *And Kyubey?!?!* ...Wait so--" Rashmi just kind of slumps back in her chair, segfaulting for a moment before letting her face drop into her hands. "I mean I know what he's willing to do for the Miraculous, but... I thought he had *any* kind of sense at all..."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:150|Adrien Agreste (150)}} has posed:'''<br>Adrien Agreste shifts to lean his hip against one of the tables with his legs stretched out in front of him. One arm crosses lightly over his stomach to cup at the elbow of the other as he raises that hand to navigate eating his own onigirii with reasonable sized bites.<br><br>At least until Rei speaks a specific name.<br><br>Roughly coughing he smacks his chest, but at the same time his balance shifts enough that one leg kicks out and he's suddenly sent from leaning to sitting ontop of the desk table. <br><br>"H-Hawkmoth? THAT'S why he wants the Wish!?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:295|Roman Talleday (295)}} has posed:'''<br>Roman's earring rang again and swung, animated with vindication. <span style="color:#FF61FA">"I knew it! I knew those fliers had a strange smell to them, Stir-stir! My nose is never wrong!"</span> <br><br>"Yeah, yeah, okay," A hand came up to steady the teacup accessory, quieting the fairy inside before she started on about Obsidian's printers and their evil ink, or something, "Everytime the words 'top model' come up, somethin' sinister's goin' on, seem like..." <br><br>He was looking around to guage the faces of everyone else. He didn't know who or what a Cube-E was, but tricking people into making a wish was never a good thing. That was genie stuff. <br><br>He turned a look towards Adrien. "Hold up, that's big bad, isn't it? Hawk Moth?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:266|Miho Inada (266)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As Miho listens, she pauses for a second. Two majors, and then Hawkmoth using Kyubey to fix an issue. The girl nods to Mamo to let him know she heard his greeting. She takes a moment, and thinks things out in her head for a moment. Miho focuses a bit. "It makes sense to a certain standpoint. Use something or someone else to fix a problem he's not able to handle at the moment.", she says. "And if he can control things. Does he know about witches? I would guess...not...Hmmm", she goes.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;There's thoughts circling in her head. "Could the pair not really be working together, but rather trying to use the other to accomplish their own plan? The two seem to be types that would use others. Maybe its a race to get to the goal before getting backstabbed by the other?", she comments. Miho's mind is going through several processes at once.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The girl nods to Amy. She takes a deep breath as she thinks deeper. Make a wish, wait until the girl witches out, deal with the witch and Kyubey at the same time? Make a wish, deal with the girl before she witches out. Make a wish, deal with Kyubey, employee the girl? Make...Its just so many ways things can play out. But it starts with one thing. Make a wish. "Can we...stop the wish?", she asks.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:38|Mamoru Chiba (38)}} has posed:'''<br>"You can talk to Hawkmoth via his akuma," says Mamoru slowly, "and can confirm Hawkmoth is a director. I even know which offices are his. I already told him whatever he wanted a miracle for, we could find him a different way, and that if he wanted more information he should ask Casual Friday." He leans down his head into a hand, not eating his onigiri, and he says, "Former Hematite can write him a letter and call in a favor from the head of HR at Obsidian to give a bona fide that Mamoru Chiba is softhearted enough to be soft in the head."<br><br>He looks up at the ceiling. "Riventon can also confirm this, if Hawkmoth looks up records of Hematite." His mouth is a thin line, his jaw working. "We have that resource, we should use it. I'm positive he doesn't know what Witches are. Most people in Obsidian don't. Nobody shares information there."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:72|Rei Hino (72)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Rei sighs and shakes her head. "Honestly, I partly just assumed Director because of the ABSOLUTELY choking aura of Dark Energy that was in the room with us and he was in charge of the business. I can't remember if it was said, but it seems like that's not relevant now."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"And yeah, he seemed to be really... adamant about her not being dead but about needing a wish. And he didn't put a lot of pressure and me and the other girl once he knew we weren't interested."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"But I have to tell you, being out of henshin with that guy in the room was something that sent my heart racing. Kyubey, that's one thing, but together and with all the Dark Energy in that place..." she shakes her head. "Awful."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I might have seen this coming except I have been mostly focused on trying to figure out what Riventon's doing..." she admits, a little sheepishly. "Too many jerks in this city."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:52|Ikiko Hisakata (52)}} has posed:'''<br>"Weight of sense versus weight of desperation?" Ikiko shrugs to Rashmi while grimacing in agreement. "I mean, if he's willing to go extreme lengths already in order to get the Miraculous, then going for even more reckless options doesn't seem like that much of a stretch."<br><br>She jots down a comment in her notepad: 'Warning: Hawkmoth more reckless than previously known. To-Do: punt Kyubey whenever I see him, even if I have to chase him down.'<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:43|Usagi Tsukino (43)}} has posed:'''<br>"Sarek-chan confirmed some of that too, but like Chibiusa-chan said, she didn't know it was Hawkmoth... that's... scary," the last two words are quiet, but she's looking at Chibiusa, and then manages a smile. The idea that her friend and her future daughter were alone in a room with a Director doesn't sit well, even though - well. Even though nothing happened. <br><br>"But she also said - she's pretty sure that he's working with another enemy, too. Her own enemy, this demon of greed named Prophèteur, because - because greed might make someone make a wish, and the demon was freed because of an akuma. It could still be some kinda backstabbing plan, like Miho-chan suggested, but... it could also be a three-sided triangle of 'you help me, I help you', and that might be worse, because they could all actually work together for a while, if that's going on." <br><br>She looks down at the onigiri in her hands, for a moment, and says, quietly, "Sarek-chan thought the whole thing is sad, because - because he just wants his wife back. And I can't help but agree with her, even though he's wrong, because - in Paris, I didn't let anything stop ''me'' from getting ''my'' precious people back."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:150|Adrien Agreste (150)}} has posed:'''<br>Adrien Agreste glances to Roman when he questions about 'the big bad'. His head is already dipping in a nod without hesitation at the question. "Yes. Hawkmoth has been after Ladybug and Cat Noir's Miraculous for longer than they've been in Tokyo. If he gets both he can use them to make a Wish as well. At the cost of maybe shattering reality though I'm not sure he knows that part."<br><br>His attention shifts back toward Usagi, and Rei as they continue on giving more information about it all. All he can do is sigh. "... I didn't know that. He never said why he wanted them before." And now he was in a similar situation. "I can maybe see why he'd want to wish that. My mother's in a coma, too." He falls silent as he allows his thoughts to turn inward. Would HE risk reality to save his mother? He goes very, very quiet.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:72|Rei Hino (72)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Rei shakes her head and looks at Usagi firmly. "That was different. You didn't go on a plan that involved hurting people and making monsters to get them back. You took *down* a monster and then nearly burned yourself out bringing them back. There's a big difference between righting wrongs and triumphing over evil and sacrificing yourself, and doing MORE wrongs, being evil, and sacrificing others for your selfish goals. When you acted, it was out of a totally different energy, Usagi-chan."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:41|Rashmi Terios (41)}} has posed:'''<br>"Frankly," Rashmi says, "if there's a way *we* can solve this for him, I... really, *really* want to say we do it. It's the right thing to do... But without Kyubey he goes from 'horrifying' to 'annoying,' and Iunno about you guys but *anything* that makes this whole mess less messy is worth going for."<br> <br>Lifting her head, she eyes the onigiri on her desk, and takes about half of it in a single, angry bite. "...Propheteur... yeah, if Hawkmoth is also working with *them* we need to pull out any leg of this table that we possibly can."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:270|Chibiusa Tsukino (270)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Chibiusa glances over to Mamoru and then starts digging through her school bag. "That's probably a better idea than what I was thinking. I thought we could schedule a meeting with him through the talent agency, but there's no way that wouldn't result in Kyubey being there."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;After that she hops down from her chair as Luna-P turns back into a catball. She makes her way to the snacks and takes a shortbread cookie that she starts munching on while others are talking.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;To Rei she says, "Well I'm glad I wasn't the only one who felt that way. It was almost like I couldn't breathe in there." Then to Usagi, "Well yeah it's not his motive that's the problem."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:43|Usagi Tsukino (43)}} has posed:'''<br>"Because I was ''lucky''," Usagi says, voice quiet but intent, "Because I had my friends, but - but also because I have this ''power'', that I didn't even ask for. But there he is, willing to do ''anything'' for it, and the only reason it worked for me and not him is - what, fate?" <br><br>She leans back in her chair and bites into her onigiri with a frustrated grimace, chewing hard. <br><br>"I'm not saying he's right, and obviously, we've got to stop him, but - I never even ''had'' to ask myself what I'd do, because I ''had'' the power. Would I have done something bad, to bring back everyone we'd lost in Paris? To bring back Chiyo-chan, Bow-kun, Haruka-kun, Michiru-san, to free Rashmi-chan and Chrono-kun from that ice, to bring back ''everyone'' we lost that day... I never, ever, had to ask myself that. I just ''could'', the way millions and millions of people ''wish'' they could, every day. Mamochan... I think we should definitely try to get that message to him, so he can hear you out."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:107|Amy Faust (107)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Amy nods to folks as they come in, and that Chibiusa saw it. Amy was there when they went into that office and saw... whatever it is they're revealing now! "Oh, hey, haven't seen you in awhile." she notes to Roman. When Adrien jokes about there being no cheese, she rolls her eyes. "Pff."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;An Obsidian plot because we can't have nice things.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Of course." Amy rolls her eyes again, and waits for the other shoe to drop.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She raises an eyebrow at Hawk Moth being involved, but. "...Well, yeah, makes sense that Kyubey's--" working together. "wait ''what?!''"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And she stares. And holds her non-food hand to her face, trying to... where does she even begin deciding how to feel about this? Besides that it's awful.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She takes a breath. "That's..."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"...On the one hand, it's kind of amazing they haven't thought of trying to exploit our Wishes before. But on the other hand..."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Hawkmoth's wife is in a coma. "So that's what he wants the Miraculous to wish for, and now he's found another way."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Another breath. "Man... It's not that I think this is a ''good idea'', but ...financial security is more than most Puella Magi probably get while dealing with everything, and at least it's a wish that doesn't backfire on them, besides wht Kyubey doesn't tell ''all'' of us..." She gestures at her ring. "But still..."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Amy blinks. "Wait. So you three obviously didn't, but... like, if someone else got a callback and Contracted... do we know if he found anyone else? And who?"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She looks to Rashmi and shrugs. "You were ''there'', at the cleaning agency. You ''felt'' how full of dark energy he is. I said in the past, that I thought... some people in Obsidian have good intentions, or ''some'' sense. But..." She looks to Usagi and Mamoru, "I was warned... Dark Energy can change that. I mean. They're willing to do all sorts of things. From a villain's perspective... I mean, when the plans already include things like sending loads of people to the hospital, or ruining lives in other ways, or backing the summoning of a being that wants to colonize Earth for some kind of being from the Dusk Zone... is tricking one Puella Magi into contracting really so... beyond whatever they would consider the pale?"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Amy blinks at Miho. ".....That's a good point. Could he ''not'' know about Witches? But even if he did... Dark Energy might have made him okay with it."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"For stopping the Wish... I mean. We'd need to stop the target from Contracting. Tell them the truth and be believed... I guess we can show them magic, but..." She scratches her head. "That's ''if'' we can find them. And obviously we can't ''prove'' the thing about Witches."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The revelation about Propheteur being mixed up in it too gets a groan. "Oh no... a scheme to make ''lots'' of people greedy and wish? I don't suppose there's any rule about wishes not working while under the influence..."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;At the sympathy shown for Hawk Moth's motives, though, she agrees. "I mean, it's an ''understandable'' desire, and if it were something we could help him with another way... like, of course, that'd be better than fighting him, if it'd make him retire." She nods to Rashmi.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:295|Roman Talleday (295)}} has posed:'''<br>"Right... I think I get it. This greed demon's making people more likely to take the deal, and not think past all the fame and lights and money." Roman understood that well enough, and he nodded, rubbing at his lip. "And making this wish means somebody gets stuck in a bad deal..." <br><br>He frowned a little, glancing up at the girls. "How many other candidates ended up goin' through? Do you know?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:270|Chibiusa Tsukino (270)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Chibiusa munches on her cookie while looking up at Roman, then looks over at Rei. "Honestly I have no idea, and they are probably still looking for candidates. They'll keep looking until they find one ready to make the deal." After polishing off the cookie, she says, "I don't know of any way to stop Kyubey from contracting. If there was, I bet someone would've stopped him by now. We can raise awareness but that only works on people who aren't on the other side of the Veil."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:72|Rei Hino (72)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Rei shakes her head. "Usagi-chan, I don't know if the Silver Crystal would hold that kind of power for you, if you were the kind of person who would do such things." she says. She can't really prove that though. But it's something she feels. Usagi is her princess, though, and Rei might well follow her to the depths of some places if she had to.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She turns to Roman. "I don't know. We know someone else got in an audition we didn't." Rei says, pointing to Usagi, or more specifically, her phone if available. "They were just sharing info with Usagi-chan themselves."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Look, I'm not saying I don't get it. I've got someone I lost that I want to bring back too - but that someone wouldn't be okay with me using such methods to return them. Still... I can kind of understand his feeling."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"It means he's not doing this for his own greed or power, which might be something we can use too." she says.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I think the biggest thing is, well, at least if we keep seeing fliers we can guess he hasn't succeeded. But we can't reveal ourselves to a whole bunch of people like that. They might not even remember anyways. I don't know all the rules for Contracting with the little white rat. He sure seemed to think I could, and I've already got powers."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:266|Miho Inada (266)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Miho thinks for a second. "Well, Greed is something that is easy to deal with. Make an offer that makes them reach beyond their ability to grasp. Overextend, and then knock the teeth out.", she says out loud. The girl coughs a moment. "Sorry.", she says. As Miho keeps going through scenario after scenario, her mind races.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I'm just stuck thinking about a few things, and running different things in my mind. I don't like what I'm thinking. May I ask a question that might be a little disturbing? Can a witch...be Akuma-tized?", she asks. "We can't go with the idea that he doesn't know about witches either. It could be the very point of doing things this way as well.", she points out. "Option A fails, use Option B? Let the girl witch out, Akuma the witch, and send the powered up witch after Ladybug and Cat Noir.", she thinks.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:150|Adrien Agreste (150)}} has posed:'''<br>Adrien Agreste shifts his weight slightly, awkwardly, before raising his hand. It was perhaps a bit unnecessary given this wasn't an *actual* classroom setting, but the conversation had been moving very quickly. "... I'm sorry I might be a bit behind here. I have heard of Witches before but, uhm, what are they exactly?"<br><br>Curious green eyes flit around the many faces here questioningly. "The way you're all talking about them makes it seem like they're more than just youma or similar creatures."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:38|Mamoru Chiba (38)}} has posed:'''<br>Mamoru looks so phenomenally relieved when Usagi agrees with his idea, and when Chibiusa and Rei agree; he nods to Roman; he turns his head to look at Amy and Miho, and looks frustrated. "It's almost certain that he doesn't know. Which is why Hematite will tell him, and offer Melona Mizu's Obsidian history and cause of death as proof. If we can offer him a solution that doesn't involve condemning kids to either just die or die in despair, I'm fairly certain he'd take it. PLEASE don't turn me into a Hawkmoth apologist, I just need you to understand the degree of non-cooperation there actually is between divisions there. Certainly, prepare for the worst, but for goodness' sake, please hope for the best."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:295|Roman Talleday (295)}} has posed:'''<br>Roman hums, glancing at Miho as she surmises that much, and though he doesn't know either way on that front, he does arrive at another thing. "Hawk Moth might just have the specific wish that he wants granted, but if the system works, it's also a proof of concept for Obsidian." <br><br>He grimaces, "There's no reason that other directors couldn't go for the same arrangement for more wishes in the future. If it gets a result, and the other two are good for it... Whether Hawk Moth is interested in more wishes or not, it's a dangerous press-a-dent to be settin' for the future."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:72|Rei Hino (72)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Rei can't help but say it. "Yeah after spending a few minutes with Hawkmoth, fighting Beryl, and dealing in distance with Mamoru's brother, I can't ''imagine''' why Obsidian has a degree of cooperation failure amongst directors, putting those egoes in a room can only lead to teamwork."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:41|Rashmi Terios (41)}} has posed:'''<br>Rashmi nods along with Roman, and smiles wryly at Mamoru. "Don't worry, Mamo-san. The last thing *anyone's* gonna do is justify the nonsense he's put on two cities, now... But take away his reason to fight, and we take away a *lot* of the fight. Then Kyubey can go back to doing his thing like normal, and gets to be the *only* person directly responsible for the fallout."<br> <br>Glancing at Adrien, she purses her lips, eyes flicking to Amy for a moment, then nods. "Amy-chan'll be the one to tell you, Adrien, they're... pretty much completely a Puella issue, the way Akumas are a Miraculous problem." Which, given the diversity of *response* to akuma typically encouraged, should explain at least a very little.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:43|Usagi Tsukino (43)}} has posed:'''<br>"...Maybe you're right, Rei-chan," Usagi murmurs, "But I don't know. I'm glad I didn't ''have'' to know, and I hate that I'm the one who did get to know." <br><br>Adrien - and Roman, too, probably, she realizes - are probably lost about this, and she sucks a bit of air between her teeth. <br><br>"Yeah, I think Amy-chan's the best one to talk about that."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:270|Chibiusa Tsukino (270)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Small Lady shrugs and sits behind her desk. "I mean no one in BMC told anyone ''anything''. I guess secrecy and backbiting is just a dark energy thing. Pretty toxic work culture if you ask me."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She also keeps quiet on the subject of Witches, because there isn't much she can say that Amy couldn't say with more direct experience.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:107|Amy Faust (107)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Would any of ''them'' have done something desperate to revive those lost? Amy just nods solemnly at Usagi identifying the issue there, they they don't ''know''.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She nods to Mamoru too, at his concern for being a Hawkmoth Apologist. "Nah, it makes sense, after what you showed me. If Riventon-- if anyone who knows the truth about Witches has ''any'' principles at Obsidian, why would they tell their coworkers? Because people who are willing to ''destroy the world''... like, among them obviously absolutely ''someone's'' gonna think they can use Witches for something."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She looks to Roman. "...''Technically'', it doesn't have to be a bad deal. I and at least one other Puella Magi are happy with what we got. If someone has a terminal illness, and Obsidian will pay for a mundane cure in return for them making a wish for Hawkmoth's wife? Like... it ''sucks'' that the world wouldn't help them ''without'' money, but the bad deal there is society's, not Kyubey's."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She puts one hand on her hip and taps her chin with her finger. "Heck, becoming a Puella Magi ''might'' fix any such illness in the process? Who knows what changes are made to a body while taking out the soul? ...Kyubey, probably, but that's beside the point."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She sighs. "I'm sure he's okay with greed manipulating someone into the deal. He used time pressure with me. Sailor Venus was about to lose to Scorn without reinforcements. And... and opportunity cost. 'So hey, magic is real! But if you don't act now, you'll forget all about this and go back to your boring life.' Like how could I say no in that situation?"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She shrugs. "He ''coulda'' just like, come and talked to me at my apartment." She blinks. "Maybe he did, and I don't remember?" She looks thoughtful. "Why wouldn't I Contract, though... unless I didn't believe him, or... oh. Maybe I asked for time to figure out the best wish to make, and how to word it right. That sounds like something I might do. And then I forgot because veil."<br><br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She blinks, "What were we talking about again? Right, greed... But then, why involve Hawkmoth? People could just wish for what they're greefy for... unless, maybe he put Kyubey and Propheteur in contact with eachother in return for help with his wife?"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Can a Witch be Akumatized? "...Well ''there's'' a scary thought..."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She takes a breath, and looks to Adrien. "Well... I can't really ''show'' you... but you might encounter one, or maybe already did and didn't know what it was-- ever fight a giant monster that trapped you in another world until you beat it, and left behind something like this?"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Her hand goes to her lack-of-a-belt-pouch, and she henshins -- there's the orb of light that cracks and leaves her wreathed in flame, without changing her outfit except that she now has a belt with pouches, and her first aid kit slung over her back. Then she pulls a grief seed out of the right pouch and holds it out for Adrien to see -- a black round thing, in a cage of metal, ornate-looking with a spindly point sticking out one end.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:150|Adrien Agreste (150)}} has posed:'''<br>Adrien Agreste listens intently with his hand raised to cup at his chin. It's the question of 'have you fought...?' that causes him to blink and automatically hold up a hand. "I mean, personally probably not, I don't--" He fades off as he just listens and watches what Amy does next. <br><br>"Um? A ... jewel?" Something else she said seems to click now as his head jerks up again. "Wait, 'taking out the soul'?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:266|Miho Inada (266)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Miho rubs her magatama. Its something she does when she's really nervous. "Sorry, Mamoru. Just my mind and training coming out. Taught to think of the worst things, and how to counter. Or how can an opponent get stronger, and counter that.", she explains. The girl shakes her head. "Plus, this is really the second time I've ever dealt with the people on the other side. I kind of treating them as being as capable as we are.", she admits.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She sighs a little bit, and tries to look for some water to drink. Miho shakes her head a little bit. After grabbing a glass of water, she goes back to the wall, and sips the water while she watches Amy henshin. She shakes her head a little bit, rubbing the magatama again, getting lost in her own head for a bit.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:107|Amy Faust (107)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Personally probably not? "Oh. Well then it's all the more important you know about Kyubey, he's probably offered you a Wish-- anyway," and she plows on with her explanation.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;After, he asks a question, and she nods, reorganizing the explanation in her head. She holds up her hand in front of her, showing the ring, then holding her palm up as the ring disappears and the similarly ornate 'egg' form, a ruby red gem in a golden cage setting, is in her left hand while the grief seed is in the right. "Unlike other Mahou, we don't have another power source. We ''are'' the power source. Make a wish, and Kyubey rips your soul from your body and turns it into one of these." She nods at it, "A Soul Gem. If we ever use up all our magic... or fall too far into despair..." She closes her eyes and takes a breath.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It feels a little weird to casually say this, but that's life. She opens her eyes again. "We become a Witch. A giant monster of despair that feeds by luring people to their deaths. The only way we can ''recharge'' our soul gems, is using the grief seeds that Witches drop when killed."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Beat.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Uhh, for complicated reasons, Madoka can set the souls free after so they can return to the cycle. So. Then they go on to... whatever happens to everyone else."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"...Also, if we die by means other than the gem's destruction, we'll be spending magic to keep ourselves alive, so... that'd use up the magic. I think. Not like we can do tests."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She watches his reaction, curiously, and feeling a bit apologetic for dropping this on anyone, but... e need to know the weight of the current discussion.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:43|Usagi Tsukino (43)}} has posed:'''<br>"Reincarnation," Usagi says, quietly, "That's what happens, to everyone else. When Madoka-chan is Hope Concept, she can - she can rescue them from being stuck in their grief seed. Stuck in their... grief." <br><br>And she otherwise nods along with the rest of the explanation.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:295|Roman Talleday (295)}} has posed:'''<br>Roman's a little taken aback by almost everything Amy says, which somewhat undermines the reassurance about bad deals she gave. Roman says something in Russian, but it still somehow expresses his concern perfectly. <br><br>His mind connects the dots of most of this fairly quickly with that little bit of information snapping things more firmly into place. Souls, in return for a wish granted, and a contract then fulfilled with your humanity on lease, more or less, until you burnout. In this case, leading to Witches. <br><br>"Right... Maybe Hawk Moth ''did'' arrange it," He notes of Amy's thought, especially considering what Rei has said of Egos. "Maybe that's actually a good sign that he really doesn't know. I mean, he might be a director, but... he's doing this out of a kind of grief himself, really. Be a bit on the nose, yeah?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:41|Rashmi Terios (41)}} has posed:'''<br>"Bein' honest," Rashmi says, looking Roman's way, "I *really, really hope* that's what it means. Because if he *does* know, then I need to be in the next ward over when the deal gets made. I hear things like hurling street signs at someone's head kinda undermines a good-faith deal."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:72|Rei Hino (72)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Well, I think what was said makes sense though." Rei says. "If you know about witches and wishes and you worked with the people in Obsidian as your coworkers, you probably would keep it quiet. I wouldn't want to think about Joker realizing he could get kids to make bad wishes would do. Unless my own plan was "ruin everything" which... wanting his wife back doesn't jive with, for instance. Even Riventon's dumb plans probably don't want other people knowing what kinda trouble they can get up to."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:150|Adrien Agreste (150)}} has posed:'''<br>Adrien Agreste usually could keep his expression controlled. Usually. There's no hiding how completely aghast he currently was at this explanation. The onigirii he had been nibbling on remains well and forgotten in his hand.<br><br>"That's *terrible*."<br><br>His gaze drops down pensively. "I. I kind of need to think a bit more. I think." He had a lot to absorb now after all! A quiet murmer comes in French as he shuffles off to wander further into the Shed into one of the other rooms for a bit. He could still be around at least that way but also just. Think. And talk to Plagg perhaps.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:38|Mamoru Chiba (38)}} has posed:'''<br>"I mean I get where he's coming from. Maybe I wouldn't turn to dark energy, but only because I know dark energy can't bring people back," Mamoru says simply, "and it can't truly heal. Not even because of the promise I made Kazuo. And I wouldn't sell anyone else's soul unless I were Director levels of dark energy."<br><br>Then he gazes after Adrien. "Text me if you need to talk, I'll come meet you."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:107|Amy Faust (107)}} has posed:'''<br>&gt; They reincarnate.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Amy shrugs slightly, but her expression doesn't indicate disagreement. She did say 'the cycle', presumably of reincarnation, she just doesn't know the technical specifics of how that works.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&gt; That's ''terrible.''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Amy shrugs, "Yeah, but... we don't really see a way to ''stop'' it, and there's so much else going on..."<br><br>&gt; Isn't that a bit on the nose?<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Amy inclines her head. "My surname is ''Faust'' and I made a deal involving my soul. Sometimes life just works out like that."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"...Not like I haven't read a story where the words of magic getting into someone's head makes them a 'Witch' that can use magic powers, and if the words overwhelm them, they become some kind of monster that traps people in a closed space, and of ''course'' shady organizations want to find a way to weaponize this... Hopefully it's a coincidence."<br><br>&gt; ..unless I were Director levels of Dark Energy.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Amy gives Mamoru a curious look. "You think even ''you'' might, with that much Dark Energy? Hawkmoth... he felt like Beryl. Or Riventon the last time we saw him." She frowns at the implications of this chain of thought.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:43|Usagi Tsukino (43)}} has posed:'''<br>"I think anyone would be willing to do something reckless and dangerous, on that much dark energy," Usagi says, simply, "Falling into the trap of thinking that we're ''good'' enough, that we won't make those choices.... that might just be how we end up falling into the sinkhole, you know?" <br><br>She shakes her head. <br><br>"We know what they're up to, now. And we can't stop everyone from making a Wish, but... maybe we can, do something, to help anyway."<br> <br>
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