i'm starting a mahou shojo collection

[theguideless]

Date & Time: Buh week of 11/25 sure
Location: MOON
Characters: Kyouko, Sayaka, Oriko, Marty, more? Mahous?
Summary: Marty meets many magical missuses meandering a moonbase
Warnings: Nothing could be as bad as what I just typed a line above so I think we're in the clear


[PROMPTS BELOW IN THREADS]

Comments

@kyouko

[theguideless]

Hkk-choo!

[with the cafeteria (mostly) empty, the sneeze is louder than it should've been, and Martin grimaces while he wipes his nose on the back of his sleeve. his footsteps, too, are loud, or...or is that just him?

he sniffs, rubbing his eye as he walks toward the kitchen. he carries a not-entirely-but-getting-close-to-entirely crumpled piece of paper in one hand, and it's the paper that's going to help him make pancakes. pancakes that he's going to--]

Oh–!

[invocation]

[She hears Martin before he sees her, but she ignores the presence at first, too busy rifling through the cabinets to find something of substance other than the freeze-dried food most people have resigned themselves to here.

She looks up when she hears him again, lazily raises a hand in greeting.]

Hey.

[theguideless]

Oh, Kyouko–! [he brightens up right away, moving over and bending to see what she's up to.]

Are you going to cook, too?

[invocation]

Cook? [She seems surprised, as if the notion of cooking in a kitchen had never even occurred to her. A slight shake of her head.] Nah, I was looking for something to eat. Are you gonna cook?

[theguideless]

Well, maybe. [a sheepish little laugh.] I mean, I'm going to try. I'm not too good at it, but this time– [holding up the paper.] I brought notes.

[invocation]

Really? Lemme see. [She grabs the paper from him, as if she'll be able to read it if it isn't in Japanese.

Sure enough, after turning it this way and that, she huffs in annoyance and hands it back to him.] What is it you're gonna make?

[theguideless]

A, it's– [it's...back in his hands. so much for explaining. he readjusts his hold on it, his smile going crooked.] Uh, well. I'm going to try pancakes again, with more things...I heard there were real berries now.

[not even a whole beat:] Do you want some? If they turn out, I mean.

[invocation]

I know how to make those. [She says this without thinking much about it. It's been a while, but she remembers that much about cooking.] Yeah, I want some.

[A cursory glance around the cafeteria.] Is everything you need in here?

[theguideless]

I think so...I mean, there was earlier. Except for the berries that I just heard about. [he meanders further into the kitchen, setting the page down as he looks about, getting his bearings. his finger traces in the air around him as he turns until he's facing and pointing at the fridge.

eggs and milk belong there. right? he goes to check.

yes.]

[invocation]

Who taught you how to do this in the first place? [She follows him around for a bit, then props herself up on a countertop, apparently content with having Martin do all the work.

For now, anyway.]

[theguideless]

Koltira makes food for me all the time. [everything is set down, then moved around...then moved around again while he tries to get his thoughts in order.

maybe just flattening out his notes will help.

he has to stop, though, to consider what he's talking about.]

Mm, and...has been, for a long time. I watch, but...only tried a little, now and then. I should practice more.

[invocation]

Koltira...hey, that big scary guy? [She recalls the name, has a dim and fuzzy memory of speaking to him once.

She conjures up an image of him in a dainty apron, flipping pancakes, and snorts.] That guy cooks for you? Oh man...

You can practice now. I'll eat whatever you make. [Even if it's terrible.]

[theguideless]

He's really good... [Martin smiles through a questioning look. is it that strange? he's hardly ever noticed.] But I think I should try myself, so he doesn't have to worry about doing it for me. Especially with the way things have been...

[and how troubled he's been. Martin lifts the note and sends a hand over to the pan. first, double-underlined, butter in the pan. Feferi was sure he'd remember that one.]

[invocation]

[The wording makes her frown, contemplative and quiet.

Finally:] Is he like your dad?

[It's a strange question to ask, perhaps. A little too personal. But what Martin says reminds her of those things: the mundane pleasure of having a family.]

[theguideless]

[Martin looks up again to stare for a beat.]

You mean, like father? ["dad"–? that's what Madoka says.

another beat and he starts looking away with thought.] My father is from Olvoski...the one I had as a Darkov. But now I'm not Darkov anymore, here. Bariyan made me a regular human being.

[he stops, still and quiet for a moment. then a lot of things happened.]

Since Bariyan...isn't here. Kolitra promised I can stay like this. And even before now...he's tried to help me, even though I was awful to him. [his mouth twitches before he looks back at her.]

But because he helped anyway...is that what you mean? Is that what it's supposed to be like?

[invocation]

[She listens, and slowly, her expression closes off, gets difficult to read.

Supposed to be. She thinks of her father, his back turned away from her. It wasn't like she thought she deserved any kindness like the kind Martin is talking about.

But it would have been nice.]

Yeah. That's what it's supposed to be like. [I wouldn't know, she almost says, and thinks that isn't true. Not quite, anyway. She isn't sure, anymore.]

You're lucky. I dunno what happened to you...only that it sounds kinda weird. [She scratches at her chin.] But it's good to be forgiven.

[theguideless]

Yes. [smiling down at his notes.] I'm very lucky.

[looking her way:] See, without them...I wouldn't be here with you right now! And I wouldn't be able to give this another try.