Your name is Midori Hanegawa, Rank Callidus. Formerly of the Tenth Incubator's employ, a mission gone completely balls-up saw your legs shot off at the knees with a veritable handcannon by none other than Murderface herself.

THE Murderface, a name both praised and reviled among the other Officios. You've heard the Pleiades Saints make theoreticals and practicals - all in jest, of course, although you could never tell with Kazumi - on how they would go about killing such a Magical Girl. A Magical Girl who killed and killed, but refused to die herself.

The nightmare you're in - a frighteningly real simulacra of Mitakihara, one that showed both ruined and intact facets of it whenever you averted your gaze, settling on one after a few moments, like an image slowly focusing - is Murderface's. You abandoned her to fight another monster you didn't want to stick around to get a good look at.

You're not too sure you believe her. You're not too sure you believe a word she'd said to you, in between the moments of panic and cold fear that gripped you as you ran around this abberation of reality caused by a single wish. A wound in the world, made by the crystallization of a young woman's hope and dreams.

But maybe you should. You are holding the hand of the girl you're supposed to be rescuing. Well, not exactly her, entirely. More like one-fourths of her, a fragment. Manifested in a shy, cripplingly-awkward child with her hair tied in braids and thick, red-rimmed glasses.

A call from the outside helped you get your bearings back - as well as the rather disconcerting warning that someone else was now in there with you. Valnikov Kharn, the former Warmaster of the Eighth. You're familiar with what they call her now, too - the Betrayer.

You hope that she's not going to try and live up to that moniker anytime soon.

[1/2]

In any case, you've escaped the pink-haired girl and...whatever was chasing you around earlier for now. The landscape before you had shifted again, this time to resemble a piece of downtown Mitakihara that you're unfortunately quite familiar with. Four locations are open to you, from how inviting each one looked, their doors open, glowing with a soft golden light, beacons in this artificial night. You laugh slightly - it's almost a comforting sight, if you didn't know that this was the most hostile environment a Magical Girl could find herself in. You even feel the familiar scratching, pulling sensation at your Soul Gem, reminding you that you are literally walking around in the fevered nightmares of a corrupted soul.

To the left of you is Charles' Bar. It's a bar, basically, staffed by Mister Charles. He and your dad are friends of a sort. The sort that would challenge the other in a flex-off from all the way across the street, and the challenge would be accepted despite it being rush hour. It's a nice, cosy place to get hammered in, and your dad has promised to take you there once you're of age.

To the right is the Deli Heal Agency. ...The less said about it, the better.

Right next to Charles' Bar is Charon, the Gun Store. It's a small shop that caters to a very rare need in the Japanese population - the need for firearms. With Japan's strict gun laws, you're amazed that it was allowed to remain in business, or even allowed to open shop at all. You hear that it's staffed by a very capable and very studious young man with a very unhealthy fascination towards firearms. Your mother had tried to have you meet him, but...you were too busy with your manga, then. Yes.

And right ahead is Hanegawa's Ramen Restaurant.

Home.

[2/3]

>>22382043

You could almost hear your dad laughing with the customers, the clink of chopsticks against bowl, the scent of freshly-cooked noodles.

You're not too sure how it ended up here.

...No. Focus. FOCUS. You're trying to save your sempai here.

And Mirai. Yes. Her, too.

Where do you go?

[]Charles' Bar.
[]The Deli Heal Agency.
[]Charon, The Gun Store.
[]Hanegawa's Ramen Restaurant.

>>22382060
>[x]Charles' Bar.

No, Decu, bad Decu, it's 3am here and I have to...
Well, fuck it.

>>22382060
>[x]Charles' Bar.

File: 1357264922197.png-(575 KB, 1047x754, Mostexcitingtimeoftheday.png)

>>22382060
>[X]Charles' Bar.

>[X] Charles' Bar
Let's get our flex on.

>>22382060
[x]Hanegawa's Ramen Restaurant.
Because BONUS STAGE and it might be where Mirai is.

>>22382060
>[x}Charles' Bar.

If we absolutely must look around we can do it after we secure this area's Murderface, and maybe Mirai.

REMINDER:
We can save Mirai, but the opportunity to save her is on a timer.

Don't fuck this up.

>>22382060
Charles Bar
We don't want to go home right now, Chiaki probably won't be there and it will be too distracting

File: 1357265451571.png-(367 KB, 850x1350, Princess_carry2.png)

Had this prepared a while ago.

I know she was in her civvies at the time, but I wanted to draw the costume again.

[x]Charles' Bar.

It's ok, I don't need sleep...

>>22382299
Hnngh.

Poor Midori.

>>22382166
But if we do get Murderface, won't it be likely that she won't let us stick around?

>>22382499

We have Moemura with us. Nobody can resist Moemura when she uses puppy dog eyes and asks nicely.

>>22382549
The other incarnations meeting Moemura is going to be wonderful. Especialy murderface, I can feel her embarrassment already.

>>22382060
>[x]Charles' Bar.

This is Matsuda's Mitakihara. She may know almost nothing about Hanegawa's Ramen Restaurant aside from the outside.

I wonder if Midori will meet Murderface or find Chiaki here.

>>22382569
I can just see it now:

Murderface comes face-to-face with Moemura and hears the story, then immediately presses her gun to her temple. BAD END

File: 1357266892999.gif-(Spoiler Image, 45 KB, 207x237)

I feel my need for sleep is decreasing already!

>>22382060
>[X]Hanegawa's Ramen Restaurant

>>22382788
What is this "sleep" you speak of?

>>22382776
>>22382569
"So Murderface-sempai, you know how you've wondered what you were like before you had amnesia? Well I've got good news and bad news..."

>>22382060
>[x]There's no place like home

>>22382822
I'm glad it's only 6:40 here. PST master race, etc.

>>22382060
It seems our choices are to either save mirai and murderface or just murderface

>>22382879

The IC choice would be both.

I am unsure if she'll sacrifice the formerif it came to a choice.

>>22382871
1:43
PM
AEDT master race represent.

>>22382879
>>22382962
I wonder what happens if we don't save every homuface incarnation? Would she be missing those memories? Parts of her personality?

>>22382985
03:44AM

Sleep is overrated.
And it's not like I have anything to do tomorrow other than taking a shovel to the massive pile of snow outside my house blocking access to the shed.

>>22382985
>AEDT
Yeah, but it's fucking Australia.

>>22383016
Living in Southern California I have never known such things. My heart goes out to you and your bound-to-be-tired arms tomorrow.

>>22383016
>From Louisiana
>What is snow?

File: 1357267810573.png-(301 KB, 630x690, 1348367904719.png)

>>22382089 >>22382092 >>22382110

You decide to go to Charles' Bar, first. It seems the likeliest place where your sempai would be found in, when she's off-duty. The revelation is a little sad, and just a tiny bit pitiful.

Well, it's not like your sempai's drinking problem is any secret. You've heard Kyoko invite Chiaki there for a few drinks - a memory from when you were still a captured enemy, half-asleep in the Silent Room - an invitation that seemed to be grudgingly accepted with a slow grunt and the grumbled words 'you're buying'. Kyoko would then balk at it, before laughing and slapping your sempai hard on the back, saying that it'd be her pleasure.

You've also heard Mami Tomoe - the apple of your sempai's eye, if you're any judge - lecture Chiaki over it, saying that drinking doesn't really do her any favors. Sure, Magical Girls don't really have to worry about long-term liver damage or anything like that, but it's an ugly vice, all in all. It's not something a Magical Girl should be doing. It's not someone like her should be doing.

You remember how guilty your sempai looked back then, and murmured something of an apology. Something you wasn't sure, back then, you were seeing or hearing. THE Murderface, apologizing like a child with her hand caught in the cookie jar. Mami merely sighed, and you turned away just as she pulled the other girl close.

...Well, anyway. Charles' Bar. Yes. You should be getting to it. You pull gently on Chiaki--er, Homura's hand - you still can't get used to the odd name - and move towards the swinging doors leading to the establishment. At least, you tried to, when you find yourself stopped by a girl who clearly didn't want to move.

[1/2]

>>22383124

You turn towards Homura, puzzled. A fearful expression faces you, nearly tearful. Her cheek is still somewhat red from where you had to slap her out of a panic attack. It seems to be getting better, but you can't help but feel guilty about it.

"I...I'm scared," Homura murmurs finally, her eyes wide and scared from behind her glasses. "I'm...I'm going to meet myself, aren't I? S-someone different. She's me, but n-not me." A trembling inhalation. "What...what if she doesn't like me?"

How do you respond?

>>22383141
"She doesn't like anyone so don't feel too bad about it"

>>22383141
"Just be yourself and I'm sure she'll like you."

>>22383141
Yeah, this >>22383166 is pretty much perfect.

>>22383141
see
>>22383166

>>22383141
"She has had a tough life, she's been hurt deeply and she lashes out when someone gets too close. She doesn't really like anyone.

But you can't blame her for that, she wants someone to try and get close, to not be scared off when she's prickly, but she doesn't know how to show it.

Now let's go get her out of there."

>>22383141

If she does, you can just go right around and tell her that you don't like her much either.

>>22383141
"Then you'll have to talk about what changed between you and her, and if it's a change you both think is right."

>>22383141

"I'm sure she'll like you, but even if she doesn't, I'll protect you. I owe you my life."

>>22383166
Except for Mami, she does like herself some Mami.

>>22383166
This.

>>22383166
>>22383293

And Misaka. When she doesn't forget, that is.

Oh yeah, I know it's a few days late but MAXIMUM NEW YEAR everyone.

Anyone feel like yelling pancakes to get murderface's attention?

Come on guys. I know it's important that we don't raise her hopes of getting along with Murderface too high, but this is a frightened, normal, middle-school girl.

At least some minor reassurance so that she doesn't freak out and bolt?

>>22383439
But she'll be really mad when there isn't any.

>>22383455
Eh, she'll cease to exist once we get them all anyway.

>>22383469

come to think of it, it's actually going to be pretty hilarious if we get them all together and she remembers Midori saying "She doesn't like anyone"

>>22383510
"Well it worked, didn't it?"

>>22383510
"B-but you've grown a lot as a person since then sempai!"

>>22383510
I really doubt that Murderface would disagree with the sentiment

About the only person she would do more than grunt at was Mami and that was because she pretty much mothered her

>>22383661

Well, in more recent times, midori, iori, kyouko.

>>22383758
That was after she made a conscious decision to be Chiaki though

Until then when she was Murderface she only really responded to Mami and as we found out more recently in flashbacks Kyouko

>>22383782
I thought she was almost friends with Kyoko since before the boughts of amnesia though.

>MGNQ thread
WELL THERE GOES THE REST OF MY NIGHT

>>22383825
Yeah but she wasn't that friendly overall
Remember during the flashbacks she acknowledged Kyouko but still didn't really act anywhere near nice towards her

The only person you can really say she liked was Mami and she tolerated Kyouko due to her being a drinking buddy / acquaintance

Yet all of that is information that Midori doesn't really have. She has her rumors and hearsay of the sort of person that Murderface is, blurry recollections of being held prisoner, and her own interactions in which Murderface was suspicious of her and something of a jerk, but she did spare her life and treated her decently.

File: 1357270716144.png-(243 KB, 1000x1500, magical_girl_noir_quest_b(...).png)

According to sup/tg/, this would be thread 75. Is it worth catching up?

>>22384119
As someone who is still catching up, I'd say yes just because it's awesome.

You can get a streamlined version at magicalgirlnoir.com if you'd like.

>>22384119
Yes, yes it is. In fact you should do it right now. This is a pretty awesome quest and it is well worth the read.

http://magicalgirlnoir.com/
has all of Deculture's posts, and the posts he replied to up until the last few threads. You should probably head there first.

>>22384119
Most of it is the participants debating back and forth (and unfortunately a little summerfagness in some of the early ones) if you just read Deculture's posts it goes by a lot quicker.

File: 1357271003762.png-(524 KB, 1125x1500, 75threads.png)

>>22384119
>> Is it worth catching up?

Yes.

>>This would be thread 75.

I wanted to wait for one more Deculture post before posting this, but I'm far too sleepy at this point to stay around any longer.

Thank you everyone, and good night!

>>22384119
MGNQ has the best characters out of all of the quests of course you should it be heresy not to.

>>22384207
Yeah it does suck to start with but there are some cool discussions buried in the archives too

I agree that the best option is read magicalgirlnoir.com and then archive binge when threads are running

File: 1357271040593.png-(24 KB, 1300x1091, MADOKAKU.png)

>>22384207

There are some bright spots here and there, though.

The non-suptg archives are probably the fastest way to get caught up, however.

>>22383166

You manage to smile at Homura, before telling her gently that if that happens, then she shouldn't feel too bad. The person you're about to meet isn't really known for liking anyone much, anyway. Maybe only a few select people, you add mentally. But she doesn't mean it out of a seething hatred for anyone in particular, she's just hard a hard life, that's all.

"I...I see," Homura replies after a moment, nodding. The worry creasing her face fading a bit, but not entirely erased. "T-then, um...I'll try to make sure that she doesn't dislike me too much." Her grip tightens on your hand, in a sort of determined gesture. You give her hand a squeeze of your own, before you lead her into the bar. The scent of alcohol - and the faint acrid hint of gunpowder - tickling your nose the moment you step over the treshold.

...Well, for a replica born out of a Witch's fevered nightmares, the bar looked quite accurate, down to the fact that it was quite clearly empty of customers. Empty except for, well, the recognizable form of your sempai slumped forward onto the the bar, seemingly asleep. A half-empty glass in her hand, and an empty bottle of Kong's beside it.

"Is...is that me?" Homura whispers in a terrified whisper. "Is...is that...?"

You nod wordlessly and move closer. It's her, alright. You'd recognize her anywhere.

Her costume is...pitiful. The white nearly gray from the detritus of wearing it for far too long. Her stockings torn, tattered, the lovely violet diamond pattern at the sides ruined with gaping holes in the delicate material. Fresh bloodstains on her skirt, herfront, needle-thin spatters and pinpricks pointing towards sleeves, hands and fingers caked in fresh gore. An empty revolver - large caliber, but thankfully not in the malevolent gold you've learned to dread - sits forlornly on the floor just beside her feet.

[1/2]

>>22384358

One cheek resting on top of the mahogany bartop, the second fragment of the girl you're supposed to rescue is sleeping the sleep of the tired, the tortured. A dead man's sleep, where there was quite the good chance they may not wake up from it ever again. Even her face is splattered with drying blood.

Was this how she was like, before you came around? You've seen her in a similar state, fresh from a mission, wearing that ridiculous maid costume that seemed to fit her like a glove more than anything. You could understand that, but to see her in this state...

Oh, sempai...what have they done to you?

[]Wake her up, gently.
[]Grab her by the shoulder and shake her awake.
[]Have Homura wake her up.

>>22384224
Damn it Nicehatguy why do you have to give me funny feelings for Pinky all the damn time?

[x]Wake her up, gently.

>About to start getting ready to go to bed
>Refresh /tg/ one last time
>MGNQ

...Welp, it's a good thing I don't actually have work tomorrow!

>>22384380
[X]Wake her up, gently.
"Chiaki, if you wake up and come with us we'll give you some pancakes. I know how much you love pancakes."

>>22384380
[x]Wake her up, gently.
"Rise and shine, sempai. Rise and shine."

We've got to hurry. Every moment here is a moment less that Mirai has.

>>22384380
>[]Wake her up, gently.

Rise and shine, Murderface. Rise and.... shine.

Not to imply that you have been sleeping on-the-job...

File: 1357271775392.jpg-(168 KB, 644x834, 1252470914017.jpg)

>>22384440
>>22384451

>>22384380
Wake her gently
Bribe with pancakes if necessary

>>22384380
[x]Wake her up, gently.

>>22384507
Let's not make promises we can't keep.

>>22384380
>[x]Wake her up gently.

She probably doesn't know who we are. Let's not give her too many shocks.

>>22384529
We've made pancakes before.

Not as good as Mami's, but they weren't THAT bad.

Might want to consider going into damage control mode when she eventually sees Pinky

>>22384380

[x] Wake her up, gently

And maybe be prepared to stop her from shooting us?

>>22384608
No one makes pancakes as good as Mami
The closest we could get it to make whiskey pancakes but that would put her back into the silent room going cold turkey

>>22384624
She's going to get back to us at the worst possible moment isn't she?
Although, when we've been murderface we weren't overly hostile to pinky, Deculture will probably stick to that.

>>22384380
[x] Wake her up, gently with Homura.

>>22384701
She wasn't overly hostile because she thought pinky was a hallucination from too much whiskey with painkiller chasers

Not that it would have made much of a difference

>>22384764
That was just the first time.

>>22384798
>>22384764
>>22384701
This Murderface seems pretty freshly mentally scarred, so all the mental wounds might not have "healed", well, as close to healed as Murderface can be considered.

>>22384841
Either that or the blood is ~symbolic~

[x] Wake gently, mother her if need be.

It worked for Mami, why not us? We are the best actor. Our job demands of it.

So yes to wake up gently, but yes to a hug once she is up?

File: 1357273163521.png-(239 KB, 864x712, 1347642406396.png)

>>22384899
Our job, our dignity and our own heart. Being Midori is suffering

[x] Wake gently, mother her if need be.

... Maybe we should've left Moemura at our family's Ramen restaurant...

Deculture summoning time?

>>22385424
NYAN NYAN

File: 1357274686403.jpg-(112 KB, 600x900, d012c20cb288d7496cff3d8ca(...).jpg)

>>22384402 >>22384436 >>22384440

You carefully step forward, as quietly as you can, but not before having Homura stay back a bit. People like your sempai - high-strung Magical Girls with a nasty temper and an even nastier drinking habit - tended to be very light sleepers. This is true even when they're all but knocked unconscious by the alcohol. Wake them up wrong, and you'll be an unfortunate target of all the aggression and fury of someone who'd just been deprived for the only restful, painless rest that they've had for weeks, maybe even months. From how your sempai looks right now, it might have even been years.

You place a hand gently, lightly, on her shoulder - suppressing a wince as you feel a liquid, sticky warmth on your palm as it comes in contact with her costume. You don't have to pull your hand back to look at it to know that it's blood - the scent of it from your sempai is thick enough to leave its taste on the tongue. You try to force down the subsequent stab of panic at this - this is a fragment of your sempai. It's not actually her, in a way. She's not dying.

"Rise and shine, sempai." You lean down and murmur into her ear, as softly as you can. "Sempai, rise and shine. It's time to wake up."

The shoulder your hand is resting on seems to shift slightly, before dipping in an attempt to shrug away from your touch. A barely audible and intelligible grunt follows a few moments afterwards.

"Don't...don't touch me." Her voice, as rough and as abused as you remember it, growls from a parched throat. "Just...just let me sleep. Tell Kyuubey I'm done, alright...? I just need some sleep. That's all." A moment more, and then a sigh. "I'm tired. Go away."

Her slow, deep breathing resumes again. She didn't even so much as look at you, then, even deigning to go back to sleep.

[1/2]

>>22385469

...

Well, what were you expecting, anyway? That she would turn at the sound of your voice, her face lighting up in a smile of recognition? She probably doesn't even remember you, like the Chiaki you left behind when you just into this nightmare. You're not Mami, you couldn't help but think bitterly. You're not important--

You grit your teeth and shake your head. No, no. Now's not the time for that. Save her first. There's time for those bothersome thoughts later, when you're safe back in the real world.

You clear your throat, and make to try again. Waking her just a bit more firmly, even going so far as giving her shoulder a little shake.

This seems to get her attention, and it's with a tired, annoyed grumble that she pulls herself up off of the counter, sitting up enough on the bar stool, but not turning to look at you. As if trying her best to ignore your presence, as well as the girl by your side.

"Drink," she murmurs, each word a dry, painful rasp. "Need a drink first."

What do you do?

[]Take a bottle from the bar and pour her a shot.
[]Take her glass and fill it with water from the tap. You need her sober.
[]Refuse, and get to business.

>>22385484
[X]Take her glass and fill it with water from the tap. You need her sober.

>>22385484
>[x]Take her glass and fill it with water.

She likes water. She doesn't know it, but she does.

>>22385484
>[X] Tap water
Let's keep her sober for now.

>>22385484
[x]Take a bottle from the bar and pour her a shot.
The tape probably runs whiskey anyway.

File: 1357274846806.jpg-(57 KB, 1024x600, 1345120456399.jpg)

>>22385424
>>22385464
>>22385469

[X]Take her glass and fill it with water from the tap. You need her sober.
Water.
As cold as it can get.

>>22385484
[x] Water the Murderface

>>22385484
>[x]Take her glass and fill it with water from the tap. You need her sober.

Plus, hey, she seemed to like it when she woke up from the operation.

>>22385484
>[x]Take her glass and fill it with water from the tap. You need her sober.

Guys, just give her a drink. She can take it. She should have a little joy in the world.

[x]A shot

Also

[x]Mother her

Clean her up a bit, wash her face, smile lovingly at her, wipe her glasses for her.

File: 1357274982529.jpg-(181 KB, 1280x720, gold saw kid watering his loli.jpg)

>>22385542
Reminds me of this.

>>22385484
[x] Get to business

Bribe her with the promise of pancakes?

We need to get on her good side. How fast can we cook pancakes?

>>22385565
Homu is a loli.

>>22385603
Depends on whether we'd need to go out and get ingredients first. And whether this bar has a kitchen, or if it's strictly a booze-only affair.

>>22385620

Blasphemy. All bars sell food. It is a good income source.

If Homura needs food there's the noodle place across the street

>>22385606
14 years old ain't a loli.

>>22385484
Get her a whiskey
She won't react well to water

>>22385652

Changing my vote to this.

[x] Take Homura to the noodle place. She remember going there with Kharn and probably associate it with a feeling of trust and camaraderie.

>>22385606
That is a common misconception. Lolis are preteen.

Get her a MORNING RESCUE!

>>22385484
Give her the water.

>AC-Guy @ArmoredQuest
>Why do I keep getting e-mailed pictures of Santa and/or a teenage girl blowing up festive things? And what the hell is 'Maximum Christmas'?
Ahaha you guys.

File: 1357275511768.jpg-(443 KB, 894x683, MOOOOOANING_LESCUE.jpg)

>>22385696
Sounds like a good idea.

>>22385696
>>22385737
Yes, we should have some on us.

What self-respecting Magical Girl wouldn't have some MORNING LESCUE on her at all times?

>>22385696

The only option.

Is it moonsoon season or ice storm season on the moon?

NIHAO NYAN

>>22386147
Seems like deculture needs a Moaning Lescue himself.

>>22385736
thats awesome and we should feel awesome.

File: 1357277417999.png-(389 KB, 637x485, morning rescue.png)

>Morning Lescue

Then the threads derails into this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xv8tqS_h9Ew

>>22386169

GORGEOUS

>>22386232
DELICIOUS

>>22386232
DELICIOUS

>>22386244
>>22386245
DECULTURE

Stop screwing up the summoning ritual guys.

>>22386277
let's start over then:

NYAN NYAN

>>22386306
NIHAO NYAN

>>22386306
NYAN NYAN

>>22386318
Goddamnit I think we're being psychic hooded by those SWQ guys.

>>22385511 >>22385516 >>22385518

You let out the breath you've been holding. You've been tensed to tackle Homura to the ground, just in case your sempai woke up with the all-too-understandable desire to shoot people dead. From the looks of things, all she wants right now is something to drink, and there's no harm obliging her. Everyone needs a drink sometime.

You get to the other side of the bar easily enough - you don't clamber over it, no, that'd just be disrespectful - and you give the bottles arranged behind you a brief glance, to see what you could serve your thirsty sempai. You blink a few times, before shaking your head. All of the bottles were Kong Whisky. Not a different brand or kind of liquor in sight. You check the juice bottles too, for the mixed drinks - whisky-flavored juice. Whisky-flavored syrup. The lot of them.

Classic sempai. Classic Murderface.

Instead of taking the hint from your sempai's psyche, you fill her glass with cold water from the tap, instead. You try it out for yourself, though - you can recognize patterns very much, thank you, and you probably won't find it amusing if the bar suddenly had whisky-flavored tap water. That'd just be ridiculous.

...Well, no. Just tap water. Cold and refreshing. You nod in satisfaction at this, before upending the contents in the sink and giving the glass a brief wash and quick wipe dry. You refill it with water, and place it in front of your glowering sempai. The glass is snatched up, considered briefly, before downed in one single, thirsty gulp.

"...This drink." She growls after a moment. "...s'different. What is it?"

You tell her.

[1/2]

It is like I am casting summon spells with fighters pretending to be acolytes.

>>22386339


"Oh." A moment, and she raises her head to look at you. For the first time, you see her blood-streaked face, her hair matted and glued in a ugly black smear on her forehead. A wound in her scalp, most probably, bled out while she was sleeping. Clear purple eyes with no hint of darkness looks back at you. "...More, please." She pushes her glass towards you, and you gladly oblige.

As you refill her glass, she murmurs again. "You're...kind of pretty for a bartender. Where's the old guy?" She looks around, eyes narrowed. "...He was here a moment ago. I think." A moment, and she grimaces. "N-no. I don't remember. I...came in here. After killing a pink-haired girl. She tried to rip my heart out." She touches her own chest, fingers fanning across the bloody material of her costume, concern creasing her features before smoothening out in a tired, but triumphant smile. "...Heh. Still there."

Behind her, Homura is clearly chomping at the bit to say something, anything, but can't. Or won't. Or much too afraid to.

You don't blame her. This Murderface is...not exactly someone approachable. Even less so than the one you're used to.

What do you do?

[]Ask her about the pink-haired girl.
[]Introduce Homura to her.
[]Introduce yourself to her.
[]Other.

>>22386339
FROM THE DEPTHS OF THE WARP HE HATH BEEN SUMMONED!! ALL HAIL D'ECUL'TURE!

Straight water, for refreshing not-alcohol taste.

>>22386376
>[x]Introduce yourself, then Homura to her.

All things considered this is a really kind Murderface.

>>22386376
[X]Introduce Homura to her.

She quite obviously has something to say

>>22386376
[x]Ask her about the pink-haired girl.
[x] Other ("We need to get moving.")

[x] Introduce self to her, mother her a bit, clean her up. Get her some noodles for lunch, and explain while she eats.

>>22386352
This actually happened in a game I was in.
>Ritual spell
>need several people to cast it
>other party members are all fighters and rogues
>Whatever
>Fighter in a coma
>rogue being hugged by elementals
>fuckthisshit

>>22386376

>[x]Introduce yourself to her.
>[x]Introduce Homura to her.
>[x]Ask about blood
>[x]Ask her about the pink-haired girl.

In this order

>>22386417

I second the mothering anon.

>>22386339
>You nod in satisfaction at this, before upending the contents in the sink and giving the glass a brief wash and quick wipe dry. You refill it with water, and place it in front of your glowering sempai.
Not taking the opportunity to sneak our dear sempai an indirect kiss?

Midori is such a good girl...

>>22386421

>Rogue being hugged by elementals
But... that is an improvement!

Did the rogue get an elemental pet/companion?

>>22386376
Clean her up a bit and tell her we should get her something to eat.
We need to talk to her and taking on a ( mostly ) empty stomach doesn't work too well

>>22386461
No he got on fire. It was a fire elemental.

>>22386457
Midori, stop missing out on all the opportunities we set up for you!

>>22386421
I like your party.

>>22386376
Introductions after cleanup and over food sounds like a good idea.

>>22386376
[x] Introduce yourself, then Homura

Then we need to hide in the noodle shop before Pinky gets back to us

>>22386488

I like your GM.

>>22386376
[x] Introduce yourself to her.
[x] Introduce Homura to her.

>>22386421

>murder-glomped by a fire elemental

Reminds me of when my investigator was tickled to insanity by a bunch of Nightgaunts.

But that's another story.

>murderface acting approachable because she had water
welp i think we figured out a way to make her stop being addicted to booze.
good job guys.

also i think we may actually have a chance to fix errything ever.

>>22386376
We need to straight up tell Murderface that she's witched out at some point. No point beating around the bush.

>>22386672
>a chance to fix errything ever.
>MGNQ

File: 1357279485617.jpg-(62 KB, 594x383, what could go wrong.jpg)

>>22386724
Yes. This sounds like a wonderful idea.

>>22386724

What could possibly go wrong?

We do need to tell her.

She can take it.

She will be more angry if we deceive her.

File: 1357279963424.png-(48 KB, 235x251, madoka_hot_coffee_by_comm(...).png)

>>22386724
Flawless plan. I almost want to see what happens if we tell her with no context or buildup

>>22386839

We can tell her later. Like, after we've gotten out of the barrier later.

>Tell Murderface she witched out
>Flips
>Pinky shows up
>Flips as well
>Fukken dead

>>22386858
>gather all 4 Homuras
>escape barrier
>"By the way, that barrier was yours."
>4 more Homura barriers

>>22386900
Homus, all the way down.

>>22386900

Uh, if we manage to get fragments of Chiaki's psyche outside of her body (barrier), something has gone horribly, horribly wrong.

>>22386895
Isn't Murderface too jaded and noir to flip out? She'd probably go "Oh. Just my luck."

>>22386932
You would be correct if the exact perfect equilibrium between jaded cynicism and bottled up emotional pain were in balance, too far one way or the other and it would be disaster

>>22386932
"Damn, I think I'm going to need some more of that 'water' stuff."

>>22386987
>Downs a bucketload of it
"...Why aren't I drunk?"

>>22387009
http://www.topatoco.com/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=TO&Product_Code=PFSC-NBSA&Category_Code=PFSC

>>22386987
If we're exploring the option of explaining everything to her, maybe we should get her drunked up again first.

Warn her that it will be difficult. That she may not like it.

Let her know that she may be working with Pinky, but Pinky is her ally against a bigger foe right now.

>>22386932
Murderface proper? Sure, maybe.

But a witch is a busted magical girl. I wouldn't count on quite the same degree of stability.

Though then again, if we were playing by canon as far as witching out goes, Murderface should be barely a hair's breadth away from it pretty much all the time precisely because of the jaded cynicism. It's pretty much despair tempered by a heaping load of apathy, which ain't exactly a recipe for bright-and-shiny soul gems.

>>22387020
This seems to be a time period before her alcoholism was deathly serious, so perhaps it's best not to feed into that negative reservoir due to potential psychological backlash

>>22387051

Give her the final decision, but do this over lunch.

File: 1357281685900.png-(482 KB, 1882x492, decu_summoning.png)

Its been an hour since last Decu post

Alright /tg/, let us try it again. This time you better do it right.

Nyan Nyan

>>22387307
Nyan Nyan

>>22387307
Nyan Nyan

>>22387307
Who's there?

>>22387307
Nyan Nyan

>>22387307
>>22387314
>>22387317
good job guys, you fucked up again.
>in b4 AC-guy accidently shows up.

Everyone go back to mage school.

>>22387330
Goddamnit Steve, why'd you fuck it up.

>>22387353
"Goddamnit Steve, why'd you fuck it up" who?

>>22387330
Deculture

Good night anons. It has been fun. Please do not screw this up too much. Remember, we are going for the watermelon route.

>>22387337
The AC guy did start posting.

>>22387440
Screw watermelon, I want rainbow sherbet. Definitely gotta have the yellow, and it'd be nice to get...um...whatever Iori would be. Pink's her theme color in iM@S, but that's already taken here.

>>22387440
>More like the pineapple salad route

>>22387499

But that includes blue!

>>22387522
We're gonna need more waifus.

Rainbow/watermelon is what we aim for, but pineapple salad is what we will get.

>>22387522
Nah, most "rainbow" sherbet is actually just green, pink, and orange/yellow. Though that's not to say you can't have more variation.

>>22387565

I am up for that.

>>22387562
>We'll get pineapple salad
DON'T EVEN JOKE

>>22387514
>>22387562
>>22387583
Hey, Mami + Midori sounds like a fine pair of waifus to me.

Yes, I am aware of what "pineapple salad" implies, I'm just making a joke.

>Finally get caught up on MGNQ over the holidays
>Have to leave early due to sleep from the first thread I get a chance to participate in after catching up

Godspeed, comrades. Leave me something good to read when I wake up.

File: 1357283312691.png-(86 KB, 1300x700, 1342805888265.png)

I summon Deculture by going to sleep!

File: 1357283553439.jpg-(58 KB, 762x386, 1350539932827.jpg)

I am torn between going to sleep at a reasonable time and not being a wreck tomorrow or staying up and following the thread some more

This is so difficult

Alright anons, one last wish before I go to sleep too. Can someone suggest, when we do get to noodles, that we order morning rescue as drinks on the side?

>>22387749
Hahaha, now you too shall know my pain!

>>22387694
>>22387701
>>22387749
>>22387757
AND THEN

Chikuwa

>>22387757
I'll try if I'm awake. We need our Moaning Lescue™.

>>22387778

My thanks good anon!

>>22386403 >>22386411 >>22386425

You manage not to look too embarrassed at Chiaki's compliment. It felt...oddly nice, actually, even though the compliment itself was made by a fragment of her psyche that did not look at all there. Still, she seemed...amiable enough. Calm enough to be talked to. Maybe it was the fatigue, the heavy weariness that seemed to come off her in waves. Maybe it was the haunted look on her face, warring against the small, unassuming smile that curled her lips.

You clear your throat after a moment, before deciding to risk it. Introducing yourself, you mean. You tell her your name - your real name - and her eyebrows quirk slightly at your family name.

"Hanegawa...? Same as the family who owns the ramen joint across the street?" She swirls the water in her glass, peering down at it, before looking back up at you. "Funny coincidence. The Warmaster and...and someone else, they...they liked to eat there. Took me there a couple of times." Her face screws up in effort once more. "I...I can't remember. That person was important. She...she told me something..."

SHe shakes her head, apparently giving up, before downing the rest of the water in her glass. Reaching over and placing her glass in front of you, again, wordlessly asking for another refill. You oblige her, while busying yourself by washing the other glasses near the sink. ...Anything to calm yourself down.

"Well, it's...nice to meet you, Hanegawa-san." She murmurs after a moment, nodding at you. "I...I hope I don't forget your name. I tend to do that a lot. I think." She then jerks her head towards Homura, who had given up on trying to approach her other self from behind and had slid onto one of the stools beside Chiaki - one stool away. Wringing her hands on top of the counter. "Who's this, then? I'm pretty sure kids aren't allowed in bars."

[1/2]

>>22387903

Homura makes a squeak, not unlike a small animal being stepped on, as her other self finally seems to take note of her presence. The looks back at you uncertainly, as if asking for help. You nod at her, before turning back to Chiaki. Chiaki, not Homura, even though everything in this damn barrier seems hell-bent for you to forget your sempai's name, the name she gave you.

"Homura," you say after a moment. "Her name's Akemi Homura. She's you."

You expected denial. You expected confusion. You expected...well, anything else, really. What you didn't expect was a surprised blink, before a nod.

"Guess so. She kind of looks like me." A low chuckle. "A bit nerdier, though. So it's probably one of them alternate reality things, or something." She takes another sip from her glass of pure water. "...Another one of them tried to kill me, before the pink-haired girl game. Had long hair, red ribbon. Same costume. Total bitch." Chiaki smirks. "Gave her the slip easily enough, or maybe she just got tired. I dunno."

"A-another one of...of us?" Homura looks at Chiaki, clearly alarmed. "W-why? Why would she do that? A-and...w-what happened to you? To...us? What happened to me?"

"Fuck if I know." Chiaki shrugs. "Figure it must've been really bad, though." She chuckles again. "I never asked for this."

You open your mouth to ask for something, when a pained voice, ragged with the unclean edge of insanity, stabs through your mind.

+Midori-chan? Where are you? Where's Homura-chan? I...I can't see. I lost my eyes. Where are you? Is Homura-chan safe?+

How do you react?

>>22387916
+I found Murderface. She thinks she's just walked away from you...ripping out her heart? Probably not the best idea to show yourself openly for a while, at least until I can disguise you.+

Bring Homura over for noodles. Calm Pinky down, send a mental hug. She is panicking. Tell her that Homuras are safe, and you will protect them. Let Pinky tend to her wounds first. Tell her that Homura will be worried if she sees Pinky bleeding out.

>>22387916
>>22387974
while retaining pleasant-ish conversation. Elaborate to Murderface on what you think you need to do here. There are two more of her to find, and maybe an innocent girl, too.

Noodle with morning lescue.

So anons, we now decide - do we reveal pinky to Chiaki? Do we keep them apart?

>>22387916
Ask if she can give Moemura a golf club. for added hilarity, actually refer to her as 'Moemura'. Justify it as code-names to differentiate them.

>>22387974
This, then quietly tell Murderface that she's witched out and split into four, and that there's a chance that she can be turned back to normal, like what Kharn did.

Granted, it ended up killing something like 11 magical girls in the process but that was probably because of Kharn's...natural inclination towards violence.

>>22387974

+And Homura-chan is okay. A little shocked and confused, but okay.+


Do we want to ask for a minute of privacy, and walk out of the bar for a minute, and then ask Madoka if she can teleport to our location?


Or, hmm... On the one hand, I'm a bit concerned for Homura-chan. On the other hand, I don't want to introduce a blind, monstrous-ish, Madoka to Moemura and Murderface.

>>22388031
This Murderface seems pretty chill. As long as Pinky doesn't go crazy or some shit it might not be such a bad thing for them to be in the same room.

We need to at least disguise the blood and the claws off Pinky.

>>22388081

A vote for informing her. We trust her. We love her enough to trust her.

>>22387916

Homura-chan is fine, although a bit shocked to see one of her more recent incarnations. That Homura is a bit older... and has a penchant for drinking.

Should we tell Pinky about the possible infighting between Ribbon Homu and Murderface?

>>22388095
Poster above you here. Agreed.

>>22387916
+Homura is safe, we've found Murderface.
Murderface encountered another... aspect of herself, and they fought.
Can you teleport?+

>>22387916
"She's safe. We're in, uh, downtown, apparently. I found another one, but she seems to remember fighting with... you. I'm going to try to find one that can keep the others calm."

>>22388104
How about no . png

This is crazy, but how about we feed Moemura a POWERTHIRST so she can run as fast as Kenyans? For when we need to run next time?

>>22388171
>she gets deported back to Kenya
Please no.

File: 1357285177327.gif-(2.99 MB, 600x468, 1350270754893.gif)

>>22387916
>"I never asked for this."
Sometimes I wish life were just all rainbows and kittens for Homura.

Wait a second.

>"...Another one of them tried to kill me, before the pink-haired girl game. Had long hair, red ribbon. Same costume. Total bitch."

So Pinky tried to off this incarnation of Homura/Chiaki after Ribbon Homu did. Perhaps Pinky was busy trying to mess around with Chiaki's mind before Midori got around to entering the barrier?

>>22388180

But she will gain the ability to bear-blast.

>>22388194

We should be cognizant of this possibility. At the same time, let us trust Pinky. She has enough people in her life who doubted her and isolated her.

>>22388219
Yeah, they did that because she's COMPLETELY INSANE.

>>22388219
This.

Even if she DID do it, we could guilt her into being regretful and apologetic that she did it.

>>22388241
That doesn't mean that she's not allowed to get help for her problems. There's a reason why mental illness can get you off serving jail time.

Okay so that's three aspects confirmed. What will the fourth one be? GREAT SCOTT future!Homu?

>>22388256
>Moemura
>Series Homu
>Post-series Homu (who made the diary entries and got the Spess Muhreen armor)
>Murderface

>>22388256

Maybe the current Homu?

Nah, I like the idea of the spirit of Homu future.

>>22388256
Moemura
Series Homu
Murderface
Post-op Murderface

That's my guess.

>>22388194
>"...Another one of them tried to kill me, before the pink-haired girl game. Had long hair, red ribbon. Same costume. Total bitch."
This might not be referring to an actual attack.

Homura may have tried to kill herself before she fought Madoka.

>>22388293
>Post-op
You really, really could have phrased that better.

>>22388346
<Midori> Y-y-you had a-a-a PENIS?!
>Innocence status: DESTROYED

>>22388346

I don't mind a male Homura.

>>22388356
Eh, she said something about having a boyfriend once. She'd get used to it.

>>22388346
>he doesn't want trap Homu

What are you? Gay?

>>22388356

Then Miracle Midori the manga became a trap and straight sex manga rather than a yuri one.

>>22388372

What.

Lalala, I can't hear you.

>>22388293
i was thinking it was like:
Moemura
Current series homura, probably right before she tried dealing with madoka
murderface
modern day chiaki.

>>22388055
this.
current day murderface probably would figure its another day in the park for her.
feel like if we could get away with anything it may be this current one.

>>22388381
>>22388372
That was before she became a meguca and full homusexual

File: 1357288096094.jpg-(23 KB, 324x291, its-time-poster.jpg)

NYAN NYAN

File: 1357288175333.jpg-(71 KB, 481x272, Homulilly_Event.jpg)

That thing.... blinded Faust.

Thinking about it since the MAXIMUM CHRISTMAS special, there is only one entity I can think of that can actually be a match for Faust.

Homulilly.

While we don't know how strong Homulilly actually is, due to the fact she only appears in a game over screen. She must be very powerful due to the fact that Homura must have acquired thousands of lifetimes of grief/bad karma before the end of the anime.
So I think our black rock shooter friend is a Embryonic version of Homalilly.

NYAN NYAN?

>every quest thread on /tg/ has a silly unorthodox romance that it is centered around but no actual pathos

>>22388733
Homilily...?

>>22388742
NIHAO NYAN

>>22388733
inb4 Homulilly is just a stage 1 witch until she evolves into Walpurgis Night.

>>22388767
GORGEOUS

>>22388733
Wasn't it established that Faust was weakened by the creation of the golden weapons? While she could manifest in the world under her own power in the past, she can no longer do so until the weapons are all united, right?

>>22388783
delicious?

>>22388767

Homura's witch form in the PSP game. No, you don't get to fight her, but you do get a glimpse of her on the game over screen. A link if you're curious. http://wiki.puella-magi.net/Homulilly

>>22388805
Deculture!

>>22388799

Faust probably had to slap a few handicaps on herself before entering the barrier.

I think it was established that she could only manifest herself physically once all the golden weapons were gathered. She can still appear in the world through illusions.

To everyone else Kharn was staring at a picture of Godoka.

>>22388835

You guys are gonna wear out the ritual magic at this rate.

>>22388768

I'm pretty sure that's not the case, but I'd rather not be up all night arguing about it, especially since I have to babysit my niece in the morning.

...So why am I still up at around 12:43 A.M.?

Oh. Right. Magical Girl Noir Quest.

>>22387974 >>22388055

It's Madoka. While you're relieved to hear from her - despite how each word she murmured directly into your thoughts seemed to burn with an unhealthy, fever-like warmth in the back of your eyes - you can't help but feel a sense of guilt. Playing bartender for your sempai and her other self, while a scared young girl is out there, alone, and most probably grievously injured.

+I found..another Homura, Madoka-chan. She thinks she's just walked away from you...ripping out her heart? Probably not the best idea to show yourself openly for a while, at least until I can disguise you.+ A moment more. +Are...are you alright?+

+I got her,+ Madoka pulses to you, her voice so faint it could be the psychic equivalent of a dying whisper. +I made her run. I...I got hit, though. She tore my eyes out. I...I did good, didn't I, Midori-chan? I protected you and Homura-chan, didn't I?+

The desperation in her words colored her voice, and you couldn't help but pale at it.

+Yes, you did good. We're safe. We're going to look for the other two.+ Silence. +Madoka-chan? Madoka-chan, are you okay?+

Nothing. No reply. Just your own thoughts, nothing else.

"Anything wrong?" Chiaki suddenly says. "You look like you've seen a ghost, there."

You manage to work up a smile, shaking your head. Everything's fine, you tell her. You give her another refill of the cold water, which she thanks you for. She reaches behind her to pull what looks like a small, white unlabeled medicine bottle, one you recognize as her usual bottle of Interfectum 600 mg. She gives the bottle a cursory shake, before unscrewing the cap and shaking out two white tablets. These she pops into her mouth, before chasing it with the water you've just given her.

"P-painkillers?" Homura murmurs. "W-why? Are you hurt...? where does it hurt?"

[1/2]

>>22388950

"Everywhere." Chiaki says, matter of factly. "All the time. I had it checked, but they couldn't find anything wrong. Tried everything." She replaces the cap and tucks away the bottle. "Nothing I'm not used to."

Homura squeaks again, seemingly unbelieving that she would come to such a fate. You can't blame her - you'd probably be horrified if Future Midori ended up a chain-smoking alcoholic whose nightmares bled into reality.

Well. No. Maybe it'd be cool, actually. Like, if Murder Mayumi and Magical Midori changed roles--

"So, what's actually happening, here?" Chiaki says again. "I'm pretty sure something weird's going on. A girl with pink hair's tried to kill me earlier, moments before someone who looks like me, but isn't actually me, tried the same, except with a bigger gun. Now I'm enjoying a nice, brisk drink of water with Nerdier Me, and the ramen guy's daughter." She nods at you. "Something's happened to me, right? You can tell me."

You tell her, then.

She blinks at you, before chuckling again.

"Figures. I knew it was going to come up sooner or later." A moment. "Did I kill anyone? Mami? Sayaka? I...I hope I didn't. Kyoko doesn't deserve that, and Mami..." She shakes her head. "No, I don't even want to think about it."

You shake your head. No, she didn't kill anyone. You were interrogating a friend of yours - Wakaba Mirai - before things started happening. Now you're just trying to get her and your friend out of the barrier.

Chiaki looks back at you like you're the basest kind of idiot. "Witches can't turn back into Magical Girls, you do know that, right? It's part of the rules. It's in the Primer. Mutant cat couldn't shut up about it, even. If you witch out, that's that."

But Kharn--

[2/3]

>>22389001

--Is a belch the universe let out, and forgot to say "Excuse me" for.

I'mma gonna get flamed for this, aren't I?

>>22389001

"The Warmaster's a special case," The raven-haired girl shakes her head. "...But I guess she's not the best example, both for or against." She manages a grin, and for a moment she looks less decrepit, less haunted, less tortured than she actually looked. "But hey, I'm here, anyway. Might as well see what we can do for your friend, I think."

+She's coming for you, Midori-chan+ Madoka's voice, more urgent yet even weaker, this time. +You have to hide Homura-chan--+

As if on cue, both Homura and Chiaki wince in complete and perfect time, one hand coming up to press fingertips against their temples. "Ngh. There it is again. It's been on and off, ever since...um. Today."

"D-does...does it always hurt like that? A-and do you hear laughing, too...?" Homura murmurs, her face pale.

Chiaki nods. "As long as I can remember. It's always been there." She looks at you. "Something tells me we should be hiding, though. It feels like trouble's coming around." She finishes her water, before sliding off the stool. Her scarred shield clamping with a metallic noise around her right arm, followed by a click as it dispenses a golf club in her hands. She gives it a few practice swings, before resting it on her shoulder.

"I think it's a good idea if we move somewhere else. What do you think?"

You nod. You were just about to suggest that.

"Well, lead on. We'll follow." She gives you a tired grin, and you can't help but wonder if she'll ever make that for you back in the real world.

In any case, you should probably relocate. Madoka's warning sounded...well, serious.

[]Charon's Gun Store.
[]Deli Heal Agency.
[]Hanegawa Ramen Restaurant.

>>22389056
[X]Hanegawa Ramen Restaurant.
Of course.

>>22389056
[X]Hanegawa Ramen Restaurant.

>>22389056
[X] Hanegawa Ramen Restaurant

We still gotta find Mirai, and that's the most likely place.

>>22389056

Gun Store. At least we'll have buttloads of ammo and various other lethal implements to maybe sort of slow down whatever it is...maybe. I guess...?

>>22389056
[x]Charon's Gun Store.

Hiding from a Big Bad? A few guns woudn't hurt, I reckon.

>>22389056
[x]Hanegawa Ramen Restaurant.

>>22389056
Let's see what murderface thinks of midori's place.

>>22389056
[]Deli Heal Agency.
its a healing agency its safe there

>>22389056
[x]Hanegawa Ramen Restaurant

>>22389112
Not sure if serious or troll.

>>22389056
[X] GUN STORE
Its coming for us. If it finds us, we need LOTSA DAKKA! WAAAAAAAAGH!

>>22389137
Pretty sure trying to fight it would get us all killed.

>>22389136

serious, after all its run by a cute cat. and who wants to watch a monster destroy our home?

>>22389056
[x]Hanegawa Ramen Restaurant.
If Mirai is around here she'll be there, and the anon above me is right. We're not fighters, save for Chiaki.