( OPEN ) i'm sinking fast into the sea

[fortissimos]

Date & Time: All week!
Location: Music room, training facility.
Characters: Sayaka Miki/fortissimos & OPEN.
Summary: Blue loser blows things up and gets in the way of people. So, the usual.
Warnings: Suffering?? actually there might not be a lot of that this time SHOCKING.


a. ( training facility. )

[ Good mood or not, she never once stops pushing herself to the limit when it comes to training. Visitors might notice a tiny blue magical girl launching a pair of blades into one of the training dummies — they embed themselves deeply into the straw, only to explode a few seconds later.

The attack might have been a success, but Sayaka just looks frustrated. She looks around for anyone close enough to enlist, then calls out from her spot; mostly-destroyed dummy still smouldering behind her. ]

Uh, hey! You wanna give me a hand? [ She rubs the back of her head, inserting a fresh magazine into one of the (now bladeless) hilts. ] These things are okay, but... I need some practice defending, too.

b. ( music room. )

[ From the moment Sayaka realized the music room existed, it quickly became one of her regular haunts. For the most part, she stays out of the way; pouring over a book on music theory or quietly listening to those who can actually play.

Today is no different... except for the fact she's really, really tired after training. She's already smothering a yawn by the time she shows up, and after a few minutes, promptly passes out with a book on romantic era music over her face. At the very least, she's off to the side... until she also starts snoring, loud enough to disturb anyone else trying to play or read. ]

Comments

a

[invocation]

[Sayaka might recognize a familiar voice. Said voice sounds a little bored.]

Defense, huh? Just know I'm not gonna go easy on you!

[Yep, that's Kyouko. She's already transformed, her spear resting on her shoulder, and of course, is eating something.] As soon as I finish this.

[It's been a long time since they'd last fought, and while Kyouko knew Sayaka took her training very seriously, she rarely accompanied her. It would be interesting to see what she'd picked up.]

[fortissimos]

[ Seriously, she's eating now? is all Sayaka can think, but she just rolls her eyes and focuses on getting her swords back. Kyouko showing up here is rare enough that she isn't going to argue. ]

I wouldn't expect you to. [ If there's one thing Kyouko can be counted on to do a good job of, it's beating the shit out of someone. ] Thanks.

[ She gives the new swords a few experimental swings, then steps to the side, carefully watching the other girl. Kyouko's still far stronger than her magically, she knows, but with any luck, she'll at least be able to to hold her own. ]

[invocation]

[Before she launches into kicking Sayaka around the training hall, she decides to ask a few questions, for once. She actually wants to help her out, this time.]

What kinda defense are you doing, anyway? [In a long suffering sort of way, she continues.] Don't tell me you're just letting people knock you around.

[fortissimos]

[ ... She should have seen this coming. ]

Is that a problem? I've gotta practice sometime, and it's better to do it here. [ Looking for some kind of distraction, she starts examining her sword. ] I don't have shields like you, so... this is the only way I can learn.

[invocation]

No it's not. [She sounds irritated, but that's nothing new.] Just letting people hit you is no way to make your magic stronger. Why don'tcha try to learn how to make shields?

[fortissimos]

I've tried.

[ Not a whole lot, but she has. She's never been good with magic — summoning swords is one thing, and her regeneration is almost automatic, but everything more complicated seems to elude her. ]

Besides, you know about my healing. I don't really need stuff like that. [ She shrugs. ] I'm trying not to get hit as much, but even if I do, it's no big deal.

[invocation]

Not enough. Y'know, I had to change my magic, before.

[The butt of her spear taps on the ground, once, twice.] It takes a lot of work, but all sorts of Magical Girls do it.

[And a frown.] 'Sides, your healing's not gonna always help. Heh. What if you lost an arm or leg? Even for you, it'd take a while to come back. You've gotta be...what's the word, flexible. I'm your senpai, right? [Said sardonically.] I'll teach you.

[fortissimos]

[ Well, that's not morbid at all... but it's also not something she's thought about. Deep cuts, even smaller things like eyes and chunks of skin might heal quickly, but she's never tried recovering a limb. Just thinking about it is painful. ]

... Yeah, I guess. [ Kyouko's tone makes her roll her eyes, and a few months ago that would have been enough to cause a fight, but she shoves it aside. This is more important. ] So how did you do it? The other stuff just comes naturally.

[invocation]

[She has to think about the answer to that. It's actually uncomfortable, having to explain it to Sayaka now, where it would not have been this way months ago. She isn't sure why.

Her expression sobers, enough to be noticeable.] For me, I had to give up on that old wish. [A muscle in her jaw twitches...and then she seems to let some of that tenseness go, deflates.] For a while I couldn't use any magic at all. Heh, I'd really given up...it was a pretty sad state. But you don't have to do that. You have a choice.

[A tilt of her head. The heavy moment has come and gone, and she appears at ease again.] In the end, I guess it's about changing the way you think. It doesn't have to be anything extreme. You wanna use that power to protect others, right? But your healing only protects you. Think about it like that. People aren't always gonna need you to take hits.

[fortissimos]

[ It's something she hasn't really thought about before. She'd figured that just being there in the thick of things, making herself the biggest target, would be enough... but that still doesn't guarantee anybody's safety. Kyouko's explanation takes her by surprise, but she listens to it seriously; staring down at her hands. ]

I guess you're right. I can heal other people too, but... it's better if they don't get hurt at all. If I can stop that, then I'll do whatever it takes.

[ For the most part, using shields to protect herself isn't really her goal — it'll make a handy backup, but first and foremost, her motivation is to protect others. She takes a deep breath, makes a note to thank Kyouko later for her patience, then straightens up. ]

... Okay. I think I'm ready now.

[invocation]

[It's a relief, to have Sayaka listening to her for once, and she's oddly proud of her for it. The spear in her grip seems to loosen and unwind; the chain clatters on the floor.]

Heh, alright. [And the chain unwinds—] Here I go!

[She lunges. The spear blade darts out like the head of a snake, hurtling straight toward Sayaka.]

[fortissimos]

[ Her first instinct is to stand and take the attack, her second is to dodge out of the way, but neither of those will help her get used to this. She stands her ground, focusing; a second after Kyouko initiates the attack, a crisscross of silver wires start to form in front of her, like strings from an instrument.

It's not a strong shield, not by a long shot — she isn't even sure if it'll block this attack — but it's a start. Trying something for the first time takes all her concentration, so there's no counterattack or movement otherwise. ]

[invocation]

[The shield isn't refined enough to block the attack completely, but it's enough to surprise Kyouko. The spearhead bounces off the first go, but then lunges again — it shrieks along the wires, so loudly that Kyouko winces at the noise.

A few of them snap, enough for Kyouko to get an opening, but she controls the blade, stops it before it can hit Sayaka in a vital area — her chest, or her throat.

The blade winds back, and the scorpion tail becomes a spear again, settles in Kyouko's hands.] Try it again. I'm gonna hit you harder, this time.

[There's no praise, not yet, but she's grinning.]

[fortissimos]

[ Sayaka flinches when the wires snap, but holds her ground. She's honestly expecting to be pummeled, so when the spear retreats, she glances up, just in time to hear Kyouko's words. ]

R, right! [ This time, she has some idea of what to expect. Her shield reforms, the wires stronger; with great concentration, she manages to summon swords, too, and waits for the inevitable moment when when the barrier gives way. ]

[invocation]

[The spear unwinds again, and rears up, this time to strike harder, as Kyouko had said. The attack is straightforward, easy to dodge, but there's a great deal of power in this particular blow, and the silver strings of Sayaka's barrier begin to give with a cacophonous scream of metal against metal. It was no wonder, Kyouko thought, that Sayaka's shield was even a loudmouth.

It was stronger though, if not by much, and eventually, Kyouko's blade breaks through. This time she doesn't pull back when it does, though — she wants to see what Sayaka will do.]

[fortissimos]

[ Sayaka doesn't have the time or focus to raise a second shield so quickly, but swords are a different matter. She's ready and waiting for Kyouko's spear to break through, and catches the tip between her blades; redirecting it up and over her shoulder.

It's not flawless, and if there's a counterattack, she probably won't have time to prepare for it. But for someone whose usual strategy is 'stand still and get pummeled', it's a start. ]