Scene #2989: Wish Factory: Spite and Greed

Owner	Pose
Hawkmoth 2.0	On a regular Wednesday afternoon in Mitakihara, a business meeting is happening in a small rented office above a popular local candy store. That business meeting features four participants: Kyubey and Hawkmoth openly sitting across a desk facing a young girl by the name of Kogane Uzushio, and hidden in disguise, a demon of greed known sought by Propheteur. Koganehas been getting scouted for the last two weeks, her attention - and agreement - sought not only by a fluffy little not-fox-cat who wants to give her magic but also a spooky rich guy ready to make ''her'' rich. A lot of twelve year old girls would probably be on board with this, and it's not that Kogane isn't tempted - she really, really is, because having magic sounds wicked, being a model is ''cool'', and being rich is ''amazing'', and having to help some lady to do it isn't that bad a cost, she guesses, but... does she really want to do this? "So how's it work, anyway? I make this wish for your girlfriend and then I'm going to get sick magic powers?" Hawkmoth does not close his eyes and exhale through his nose, because showing weakness is how you get devoured, and children are utter nightmares - there's a reason he had been ''so'' cautious about letting Adrien go to school, after all. But this child has the potential to give him exactly what he wants, so he has to be patient. He can't just akumatize her and hope that a self inspired by volatile feelings would be more amenable. Even if he wants to. He sends a message to Propheteur, instead. <<Your nudge towards greed is going to be very necessary with this one.>> Kyubey, meanwhile, flicks his tail and says, in that pitched young voice that sounds so much like cheer, <<Well, once you make your Wish, you'll be able to transform, and gain a weapon all your own! You'll be able to use magical powers to find and destroy Witches, before they can hurt people!>> "Yeah, okay, but ''how''? Do I get to pick my own costume? Do I get special magic jewelry, can I show it off? Is it expensive?" As this business meeting is happening, the candy store downstairs is holding a sale, and offering free samples of Sakura blossom flavored candies - like kitkats, and gummies - to entice shoppers.
Cute Wolf Tsukiko	It had been a slow afternoon for Ikiko today -- it took less time than expected to care for today's group of strays, so she had found herself with some spare time to wander around. The signage indicating free sakura-flavored candy samples had caught her eye, so she had wandered in. "Oh, ''this'' is neat," she says to herself as she looks at the seasonal designs on some of the candies -- even if it's not sakura-flavored, the pattern of the blossom is still pretty, after all.
Amy Faust	"Huh." Amy says, around a sakura-flavored gummy in her mouth. "I'm not sure what I expected." One of her best friends lost her powers, but life goes on, regardless of the things that are clearly more narratively important. Exams are happening. Amy's no straight-A student, and if her past life teenager's self saw her grades he'd be worried, but as long as she's not doing ''poorly'', she doesn't care. Still, altogether life is a bit stressful right now, but the thing is, she actually ''likes'' talking to people, so going out to candy sale... why not? People can't get too mad if she's a little weird when they're getting free and cheap candy, right? Like the junior from school who she's struck up a conversation with right now. The other girl asks, "So if these are 'Japanese' kit-kat flavors, what do they have in America instead? Do they have, um... hot dog and hamburger flavors?" She makes a bit of a face imagining such a kit-kat. "Apple pie?" Amy's laughter almost loses her the gummy, but she manages to catch it when it falls out of her mouth before it hits the floor. "...Okay, I can kind of see a cinnamon apple pie flavor, that might be a good idea..." she shakes her head, "But no, they just have like, chocolate. And I think white chocolate and maybe a cookies-n-cream flavor? Unless they've diversified since I was there. I don't know why, I guess they think Americans don't like variety, or something. Oh, hi Hisakata-san!" Amy waves as she sees Ikiko come into the store, and quickly pops the gummy back in her mouth.
Molly Skyline	Molly is not liking this particular school week. The problem isn't really that it's exames; that's just part of going to school, and it's not like she has any reason not to be confident with the amount that she's been studying. It's just that even with the efforts she's been making to catch up with everyone else she's still a full semester behind where she should be, so while everyone else her ages is going to finish their exams and graduate, she's going to finish her exams and look forward to summer school. ''Sigh''. So there are fixes for that, at least short term ones that depend on a lot of sugar, so here she is in this candy shop. Because why not. And she's happily loading herself up with everything she can find that's either a familiar favorite or something that feels like it'd be nice to try, and she sees absolutely no reason not to go home looking like she just got done trick or treating for Halloween. Have linker core, will eat anything and everything. (Except celery, because yuck.)
Pulp Noir	Hinote Kagari and Tracy are hanging out in a Candy shop and has a basket he's filling with treats. He's looking at a list on his phone of things he needs to pick up his mom likes and wanted and then some things dad likes for when he's actually at home and not abroad. Hinote Kagari puts a bag of gummies into the basket and Tracy helps by throwing in a small packet of lollipops, of assorted flavors into the basket. "Got the smokes." Tracy says. "Lollipops." mutters Hinote under his breath. Hinote has been busy with exams so a moment to stock up on study snacks is always desired. Then there's FREE SAMPLES and he steals a Kitkat, and gives it a break, sniffing it, before taking a bite, and 'huh'ing to himself. He's not sure he likes it. But it isn't unpleasant. He picks up a small bag of the Kitkats and into the basket they go. Maybe Mom'll like them. Tracy steals a Kitkat when no one is looking and off goes a Kitkat into Tracy's mouth. He makes an OK sign with his fingers as he munches. He likes it! Oh, there's Amy and Molly! And he doesn't know Ikiko so she goes unnoticed. "Hey!" he goes. "You guys surviving the week? Almost over..." he whews.
Princess of Sarek	<<I will take care of it, Hawkmoth.>> The demon of greed known as Prophèteur looks at the little kid his two colleagues have been trying to push right into their bidding. A curious thing, she is. He can feel the potential for greed coming off in waves strong enough for him to not even have to look for it. Humans are interesting creatures sometimes, both knowing what they want and still holding themselves back. It was sweet in a way, if only exactly the kind of thing you would expect from a young child. "Hello, there. Don't worry, you are among friends here", Prophèteur steps closer, and in a blur, shifts out of his business suit right into his real form. "Cool trick, right?" He passes a hand over his staff, and when he takes it away, there is sparkly green dust in his hand. "I can feel the desire of your heart, and the scope of your ambition, and there is nothing more beautiful. Earnest spirits like you should be commended, and I have a gift for you." He calmly reaches towards Kogane's hand and holds it in his, letting the dust be pressed between the two. "I have looked into the future, and everything will unfold exactly as you want it. So leave your hesitation behind: fate itself has already woven your wish into its tapestry." There is dark green light between their hands now, and it slowly spreads to cover both. Kogane starts getting visions, of her speaking the words, and Kyubey reaching into her heart to pull out her Soul Gem, and the familiar glow of money, for her to spend, and the reassurance that nothing will interfere with this path. Downstairs, Veronica is with the group too, and she has taken a piece of the sakura blossom candies, slowly biting into it. "I can see why they are into it. This is really intense", she quickly says. "Very sirupy. Makes me think of maraschino. Have you had anything like sakura blossom before, Ikiko-chan?", she asks the other brunette.
Hawkmoth 2.0	<<Excellent.>> Hawkmoth settles back, watching, ''waiting'', as the demon emerges from the shadows, startling the last of the potential targets Kyubey had found at the modeling event. If this didn't work, he would move onto the next event, and the next, each sure to draw large crowds, each sure to bring together more of those with potential than Kyubey could ordinarily scout on his own - But he would rather it end now, rather than later. Kogane startles as the demon transforms from an almost regular looking person to something ''so'' much stranger, and her bright green eyes are wide, as she stares up at him. It ''was'' a cool trick, but she's not going to admit that! "You know it's weird to feel the 'desires of my heart' right?" Is what comes out of her mouth, challenging. She tilts her head back, nose in the air, every inch the future Ojou-sama, except for the part where she's a pipsqueak compared to the two adults with her. But he says he has a gift for her, and she likes gifts, even if she's suspicious. He says it's ''good'' for her to ambition, and she knows that, duh, but getting it validated is - it's nice. So his hands reach for hers, and she doesn't pull away, and the light spreads over her, and she sees a vision of herself, making the wish, and she sees a vision of herself, with power, and she - "You're right. You're right, it ''will'' be what I want, because I know what I want!" And she does. Dark green light covers her, energy present, and her eyes darker than before, when she turns to Kyubey, and smirks at Hawkmoth. "I'll make a contract with you! I wish to be even richer than that guy could make me, and for it to be all mine!" Kyubey had moved forward as soon as the light started, and with that Wish spoken - well. Let it not be said that Hawkmoth couldn't deliver. <<Very well. Your potential is suited for that Wish, Kogane Uzushio. From this day forth, you will become a Puella Magi... I hope you enjoy the rewards!>> He reaches for her, and Kogane laughs with delight as golden light floods from her chest, power flooding her senses. The light is so bright, it can be seen from the ground floor through the office windows. When it fadeds, Kogane Uzushio stands, still a taller-than-average twelve year old with curly red hair bundled in two curly buns, but now wearing a golden crown with a Soul Gem embedded within it, her clothing transformed into a bright yellow dress with a flaring skirt, a black leather belt embossed with diamond patterns, white stockings, and a pair of black heeled slip-on shoes. Her hair buns have ribbons now, bright gold with a pair of bright red rubies at the tails of each ribbon. "I... I really did it! I made a Wish and I'm a ''magical girl''! And I'm ''rich'', right? And I didn't even ''need'' you, ha! Get some other sap to help your wife!" <<You do have the money you hoped for, now.>> Kyubey confirms. Hawkmoth, meanwhile, takes one look at the girl so smugly satisfied, and stands. He's tall, much taller than a taller-than-average twelve-year old. "I might have accepted your choice, girl, but you made a miscalculation." "Huh? Oh yeah? And what's that, huh sadsack?" "When you were a helpless little girl, I didn't care about kicking you down. ''Now you're not helpless''." And then he just blasts her through the glass window, with a bolt of dark energy. Kogane ''shrieks'', the sound echoing through the air as glass rains down, and everyone on the street has a chance to look up and see a twelve-year old go flying out a third floor window towards the ground.... before a ''stream'' of bright gold coins, gems, and bills go bursting from her palms, slowing her fall so she lands in a pile of more money than most people here have ever seen. Needless to say, all hell breaks loose.
Pulp Noir	Hinote Kagari is waiting for an answer from his friends when there's the sound of glass shattering, a shriek from the upper levels, and he runs to the window of the candy shop to see a pile of pure cold cash form to slow the fall of a magical girl. What the hell is happening. When everyone is busy looking at the spectacle he backs up and runs past behind people. "My Heart, Unlock!" he calls out, as Tracy follows, drawing the unlocking motion with his hands as he and Tracy merge and through the door of the candy shop comes out Pulp Noir, the masked detective frowning as he runs over to the magical girl. "Hey! Are you alright!? What's going on here!?" he asks as he looks upwards to the upper level of the Candy Shop where the window broke, before looking back to the magical girl and--- --is that a soul gem in the crown? He looks back upwards. Is a Labyrinth up there or something? "I'm Pulp Noir." he says, drawing his fedora down. "Don't worry. Here to help." he asides.
Cute Wolf Tsukiko	Ikiko nods to the people she knows, and even to Hinote -- although in his case, it was prefaced by her noticing (and briefly staring at) Tracy, so the nod was more of an acknowledgement of 'yes, I saw that, and you probably saw me seeing that, so yeah, we're probably both mahoujin.' "Not frequently, but on occasion," she replies to Veronica. "The intensity varies by maker and also by the type of item; some things work better with a more delicate flavoring, after all." Further comments are cut off by Kogane's sudden shriek and the bewildering arrival of a new magical girl that accompanied that sound. "Is... that a ''Puella''?!" Ikiko remarks, before ducking through the aisles for a stealthy henshin. One silvery glow later, Cute Wolf Tsukiko emerges from the candy store. "And I'm Cute Wolf Tsukiko," the wolfgirl adds. "Where's... no. What's attacking?" (Priorities, priorities -- deal with whatever caused this new mahoujin to shriek, '''then''' look into punting Kyubey!)
Amy Faust	"Molly! Kagari-san!" Amy waves and smiles as she sees more familiar faces. She shrugs and lets out a breath with a 'phewwwwwww' sound as he brings up the week. "Yeah, so far. How're your exams--" She freezes mid-sentence and stares at... ...That light. She'll never forget that light. The last thing she saw as a human, and the first thing she saw as a Puella Magi. She looks for the source, and there's a scream and a crash, and a magical girl thrown from the upper floor lands on a pile of... money? "I think someone just Contracted." Amy remarks, breathless. "Sorry-it-was-nice-talking-to-you-I-gotta-go!" She runs outside, transforming before she even reaches the door. ''Shit, shit, new Puella Magi, what do I say? Looks like she contracted to fight a monster, too... but then why didn't we feel it?!'' "What is it?! What are you fighting?! Congratulations and I'm sorry, but you're not alone!" She calls out, running to the new mahou's side and looking back at the building for what she's fighting. The girl Amy was just talking to can only say, "What?" Before her questions and trying to get a look from the store windows become just another part of the hubbub.
Princess of Sarek	"Her ambition is really bright", Prophèteur comments as soon as the wish is made. "Perhaps she would have been a great magical girl in the service of Dame Nation, had she just been born a little earlier." Sadly, fate didn't ordain it that way, but there is still time to change things. That, they have always had. "Don't worry, Hawkmoth", he adds calmly. "Fate doesn't stray from its course. Your wife will smile at you soon." Veronica's attention switches as soon as can be when she hears the crash and turns towards the girl who just fell from the second floor - ''onto a pile of money.'' Well, this day just sped up. She practically leaps behind the corner, and in a second, calls out the shine of her heart. "Time to sign off on today's heist!" Veronica grins, clapping her hands above her head. A burst of silver-white sparkles streaks across the canvas of a night sky as her voice lifts into song: "Ready, set, go! I'll paint the sky and spread my colors through the moonlight". The moonlit princess leaps into the air, catching sparkles with outstretched hands, the melody awakening the night itself. Landing with a twirl, moonlight trails behind her, and her hands hold her calling card and miniature cane. Elegant strokes write "Princess of Sarek" across the paper, eyes shining with anticipation. Another clap fuses card and cane into a radiant staff, which she extends to full size with a flourish, her smile triumphant. "This heart of mine you'll see it glowing like a spotlight" As her song continues, she forms a glowing heart with her hands, and silver light bursts skyward, taking the shape of a cat falling into her arms. Its touch transforms her, a golden shine dying her hair, which braids itself as feline ears twitch into place and a ribboned tail unfurls behind her. "I'm leaping through the shadows dancing with my silhouette", she spins with the rhythm, coating herself in a wave of silver light that explodes into her magical garments. Drawing her top hat in the air with threads of moonlight, the cat thief reaches out for it, crowning herself with a wink, concluding her performance with the last note of her song. "Tonight tonight, oh I'll, I'll paint the sky" "Seems exactly like it", she agrees with Tsukiko lightly. "We probably shouldn't worry too much." Still, a check-up can't hurt. Even if she is not sure about the fact the Puella conjured a pile of money. Well, no need to jump to conclusions yet. One bad jump is enough. "Never thought money would save lives this directly. Are you ok? Do you feel hurt anywhere?", the feline thief asks, since Tsukiko is already taking care of assessing the threat. Her ears visibly perk up at hearing Amy say she just contracted, but the Princess of Sarek sets that aside for later. Now is not the time.
Molly Skyline	Molly is looking at candy and just about to greet her friends when all hell breaks loose. Moments later, Star Devil is emerging from the aisles as her Flier Fin wings flicker into being behind her Barrier Jacket, and she rushes towards the door, already airborne from inside the shop. "Starcrash, let's raise a Time/Space Barrier," she instructs and her device obliges, a sphere of just-a-little-over-that-way rapidly expanding out from her to encompass the building and surrounding area, leaving the civillians behind in their own dimension so a fight can happen without, y'know, property destruction. Molly's battle-visor tags all of her allies with little blue nametags, and attaches a yellow ? with a shrugging emoji to the newly formed puella. As she exits the building she lets her wings carry her upwards, and targeting brackets mark the broken window that the girl just came flying out of, along with rec brackets around Hawkmoth with a >:( face attached to him. "Starcrash, charge..." She trails off for a moment, and feels her one biological hand shaking. But before Starcrash can say it, she sucks in a breath. Now is not the time for self-doubt, Molly! "...Charge Stellar Collapse." << AFFIRMATIVE. ARMED >> "Fire!!" Seriously, why wait? Seven large, searing hot barrets orbit vertically around Molly, coalescing in unison into beams of brilliant energy that lance not ''quite'' straight for Hawkmoth but more into his general viscinity, just inside the window; they all strike the same point, and there they rather violently... explode.
Hawkmoth 2.0	A hoard of mahoujin appears even as Hawkmoth leans ever so slightly out the destroyed window to watch her manifestation of power. Really, she summons money? How gouache. Kogane Uzushio might have gone down, and she might be a little in shock from how much getting knocked through a window with an energy beam could hurt, but she is ''not'' out, or smart enough to quit while she's ahead. "If ''THIS'' is how you treat people, I'm double glad I didn't make your stupid Wish! Go cry over your girlfriend and leave me out of it!" Let it not be said that angry and upset twelve year olds are always the brightest or more emotionally aware and mature bulbs in the socket. She was yelling before she even realized there were people running her way, and she scrambles a little in her little hill of money and gems, eyes huge. "Who are ''you - Pulp Noir? Like, orange juice?" Unfortunately, she is uncultured in the ways of classic mystery, and is squinting at Pulp Noir, before looking to Tsukiko and staring even more at the wolf-eared-and-tailed girl with the fanglies. "The JERK who wanted me to make a wish for HIM instead of ME. Hmph, if I can ''wish'', why would I need his money, anyway? It's not ''my'' fault he was too dumb to figure that out!" This is absolutely at least 40% her fault. "Why are you sorry?! And who ''are'' you people, do you just hang around waiting for the new girls on the block?!" Meanwhile, upstairs, Hawkmoth looks distinctly unamused by the attack coming his way - and he swings out his golden staff/cane and just... knocks Star Devil's attack right back at her, explosions and all. What? He's a ''final boss''. They're all bullshit. "Aren't you the dead girl?" he asks, with a considering hum. "The one that was in Tomoe's lab? Shouldn't you have learned your lesson about biting off more than you can chew?" A disdainful sniff, and he turns his back on the heroes, glancing at Propheteur. "I'm not worried at all. Of course she will. This is nothing more than a setback... and not one we need to remain here for." With that, dark energy swirls, and he duskports away in his own unique fashion, body breaking up into thousands of butterflies that swirl away and towards Obsidian Tower.