Magical Girl Meme

[raptorbox]

Pretty basic concept here, sometimes teenage girls have magic powers for fighting evil (or doing evil if that's how they roll) and that's just how it is. Usually it's a secret but maybe it's not?? Maybe there are also ways to get magic that don't require you to be a girl.

Who knows, it's up to you, this is a loose-concept/AU meme! Just warn for your violence/existential horror/embarrassing teenage sexual tension in the subject lines.

1. First Transformation: Surprise, you've got magic powers! And they come with a costume that you… probably like? Maybe you don't, I don't know your life.

2. Into Battle: Possibly connected to that last prompt, oh dang, there’s some kind of monster or something. Whether you’re new at this or not, you might wanna fight that before it wreaks too much havoc.

3. Confrontation: Those monsters (or disasters, or brainwashed minions, or whatever) have to be coming from somewhere. Whether it's the first time or the fiftieth, it's time for the hero(es) to come face to face with their nemesis.

4. Prep Time: Teams, whether they're good or evil, tend to work better if they have some kind of a game plan. Or maybe you can't predict your opponent's next move so you're just doing some team-building exercises, who knows.

5. Hostage Situation: Someone's been captured! Maybe the villains have taken a heroic magical girl prisoner, maybe the good guys have siccessfully captured one of their opponents, or maybe you're just a bystander/non-magical ally/love interest who… may or may not know why you've been kidnapped. It's a little awkward, but maybe this could be a good chance to talk.

6. Slice of Life: Not even magical girls can fight all the time, alright - but there's always a risk of worlds colliding. Maybe you're getting some well-deserved downtime, trying to go on a date, or just going to school like a normal teen. And… well, time will tell if it stays normal.

7. The Secret Come Out: You probably hoped this day wouldn't come (unless you were actually kind of hoping it would, like a weirdo), but here it is. Someone's found out who you are. Is it worse if they're a loved one or just some rando, who knows!

8. Wildcard: I can't tell you how to live your life, do what you want!

Comments

[pipers_son]

"Ha. It's not an easy life, when you've been gifted like this, huh~?" She knows that for sure herself, although she's more than glad to say that she's not on the opposite side. That is even worse, in her book. At least this way, she can sometimes pay the bills a little more, and gets something worthwhile out of it.

Being the hero doesn't really pay anyone much at all, from what she can tell.

Well, that's enough talking, or, at least, talking and standing still. With a sway of her hips, she leads the way back to the stairs. An elevator was there once, and so there's a guaranteed way up around here somewhere. A Seven can make quite a few changes within its nesting area, but it can't completely warp reality. A good thing, in the case of a hero. "So, how long have ya been doin' this kind of thing? If you're more inclined ta answer that instead of yer name, of course, Seelie girl~."

[dontpokethat]

"Hmm." At times, she's not totally sure if she'd call it a 'gift' at all. But she supposes, overall, she's probably better off than she would have been if she'd never gained these powers.

Either way, there's no point to dwelling on it, and Ginko doesn't see a reason to share those particular thoughts with her new friend here. She follows close behind Joker, keeping a careful grip on the pins she's still holding and watching her body language for any sign that she might be about to try and pull something.

"How about I tell you... if you stop calling me that."

[pipers_son]

There's nothing suspicious about Joker's body language... besides the fact how utterly relaxed she is, practically skipping up the steps and giving a nice big hop at the very top one. It's honestly a little exciting, to have some people show up when her territory has been so empty and quiet.

And, well... There's a reason she can present herself so relaxed.

"Oh, a deal it is!" She looks back behind herself with a large grin, hair swinging weightlessly around her. "Then done deal!" Look, she'll even hold off with the nickname.

[dontpokethat]

See, Ginko is willing to consider that a little suspicious in itself, under the circumstances. It could easily just be how she is, but on top of everything else, it seems... odd.

If she had some control over all this, it would also certainly explain how everything from the lighting to Joker's behavior seemed so... like that. Effortless and glittering, more like a carefully attuned, idealized movie scene than a real person in a real place.

"Good." And, with Joker's end of the deal held up: "Seven years. What about you?"

If it sounds like a lot, given her young age, that's because it is.

[pipers_son]

Wait. What? Joker comes to an abrupt stop, eyebrows rising up to her hairline at the news. Seven years. How old is the girl in front of her now? The wary scowl makes her look older, but even with that into consideration... Ignoring the question being asked of her, Joker tilts her head from one side to the other, a gesture that's theatrical even when done subconsciously.

"What, how old are ya know?" She surely can't have graduated school yet, right? Maybe recently graduated, or about to, but... Even then, that would be too young, right...?

[dontpokethat]

Ginko can't deny that there's a measure of satisfaction that comes with watching the grin fall from Joker's face - a large enough measure that Ginko has to look away to hide the beginnings of a smirk. She walks a little faster, walking a couple feet past Joker before turning back to look at her again.

"How old do you think?"

[pipers_son]

So, the cute new girl in town has a little bit of douchebag in her. A little bit of spice isn't bad, honestly, but the whole context sours it for Joker. Her head turns to follow the other girl, and only one eyebrow comes back down.

"...Not old enough ta be doin' this for no pay and no gratitude, s'what I think." This time, she lingers behind Ginko, following her instead of leading. "I mean. Unless someone is actually payin' ya. That'd be news ta me."

[dontpokethat]

From there, Ginko stays pretty close by Joker; she doesn't exactly want to give up this power move position, but she's not the one who theoretically knows where they're going. Besides, she still doesn't want to get too far ahead to keep an eye on her companion.

"Is that what you think. So, does that mean that you figure you're old enough that it's alright, or that you are getting paid?"

Whether for the same job or something... you know. Completely opposed.

[pipers_son]

She's absolutely not old enough for it to be alright but that, frankly, has been nothing new. Joker's been in that same position for most of her life and, frankly, it's stopped being a shocker when it's her life taking a downward spiral. That doesn't mean she has to like seeing it in someone else.

None of that shows on her face as she speeds up just enough to try and bump her shoulder against Ginko's arm, and she winks up at her. "I pay myself~. S'why I'm lookin' for a magical somethin' around here. It's some sorta item, and I figure it'll make my life quite a bit easier if I can get my hands on it. But ya didn't answer the question, moonflower."

[dontpokethat]

Ginko pulls away with a jolt, her fingers curling tight as she glares at Joker.

"'Pay yourself', huh." That sure sounds like a euphemism for theft - which, actually, doesn't bother Ginko too much. There are far worse things that Joker could be doing, some of which Ginko suspects she might, so... money isn't that high on her list of priorities, unless Joker is taking it from homeless people or orphans or something.

"Seventeen. You don't know what the item is?" She'll just opt not to acknowledge the new nickname for now.

[pipers_son]

Seventeen, and seven years... Joker leans a little bit closer to her, just barely not touching, and thinks on that. That's really too young... and for what? Joker can't really imagine it herself.

"No clue, really. Apparently it either gives strength ta plants, or makes humans more violent." Her hands flop to the side in a careless shrug. "The source I got the information from wasn't particularly helpful."

Stupid bleedin' moths.

"Three, by the way."

[dontpokethat]

Ginko takes a pointed step to the side, putting a little more space between them. She knows it sounds like a bit much, but... she's got her own reasons for sticking with it like she has.

Not that someone she just met needs to know about how this is about the only thing making her existence seem worthwhile.

"One or the other, huh. Mind explaining what, specifically, you'd want with an item like that?"

And, while she's at it: "Years, or months?"

[pipers_son]

"Years." And while they haven't been the best years, she has to admit that this has made keeping her head above the water a lot easier.

But she can't imagine having the head for it when she'd been ten.

Joker continues, pauses at what looks like fencing around an otherwise open path. Really now? She glances along it, making her way through the neon to find where the latch is for the gate. It has to be there. Cards are a pain in the ass, but they do let things be passable, for her sake if nothing else. "And I figure I might make some money off of it. I mean, I'm not the only one interested in things like this, right?" Ah, there it is. She swings it open with a bow to her stoic and grumpy companion.

"Pretty ladies first~."

[dontpokethat]

"So, you're planning to sell off a potentially dangerous magic item. Do you not realize how much trouble that could cause, or do you just not care?"

Whoops so much for employing any kind of subtlety. Speaking of which, Ginko is even more determined not to turn her back on this girl now. She stops where she is and crosses her arms, raising her eyebrows slightly.

"...Alright. So, are you going through, or what?"

Look, as far as she's concerned, that's not even a weird thing to say here. All it implies is the objective truth.

[pipers_son]

"I mean, would ya rather I keep the potentially dangerous magic item for myself?" Joker tosses back with a laugh before twisting around through the gate. "And I'll remember that compliment! I'm glad ya think I'm so attractive~."

As far as she can tell, it's just a normal place besides the appearances, and what she can tell is the most important thing. If there was something she couldn't tell... That would sure be worrying. Good thing she doesn't have to worry about it.

Unlike the rest of the hallways, this one is bathed purely in neon pink with none of the darker colors to contrast against it. The metal fencing seems to go all around it in a circle, with only a couple of gates. Making a show of circling through the room, she glances back to where Ginko is. "Looks clear ta me."

[dontpokethat]

"If you were doing that, maybe I could believe that you wanted to keep it out of the wrong hands. But it doesn't sound like that's a priority of yours, huh." Her one eye stays fixed on Joker's face, sharp and bright. Once again, she chooses not to comment on that last part. It strikes her as a little pointless, since it's just true.

She nods slowly and follows Joker into the room, casting a glance around herself. "Good. How much further to where you last saw it?"

[pipers_son]

"As it turns out, morals are a pretty expensive pet ta take care of." One she doesn't really have the money for.

As Ginko steps inside, the gate swings shut behind her, and the whole area shudders. Not particularly worried, Joker flops down onto the ground, legs folded beneath her and arms behind her head. "Just up a couple floors~!" she sings, and laughs. "Can ya guess what this used ta be before things changed?"

It should be pretty obvious, considering that the walls around them seem to be sliding down... or, rather, the two of them are sliding upwards.

[dontpokethat]

Ginko's expression darkens - not dramatically, not into a snarl or even really a scowl. But it's certainly a visible change from the flat, tired expression she's held for most of this conversation. She can understand the need for money, but talking about morality, about taking a moment to think about other people, as if it's some kind of... frivolity, simply for one's own self-satisfaction, doesn't sit well with her.

She flinches again, glancing over her shoulder at the closed gate before looking back to Joker. She doesn't sit down; she'd like to, of course, but with this girl right there... not happening. Instead, she just adjusts her stance, leaning more weight on one hip and crossing her arms. "Hmm."

No, she's not actually going to answer that.

HERE WE G O

[soft_focus]

Reira's 'calm' is an easy thing to attain. Bloom's music typically does the trick; gentle floral scents scattered with quiet melodies from the blossoms at her shoulders. But while calm is achieved, chasing off Ginko leaves one thing clear to the three. Or, well, to Bloom anyway.

"We can't lose focus!" She insists to them. While the paper is grudgingly accepted as necessity, ground rules follow. "Two of us will be here at all times! One to escape, one to get the third; no more distractions! We keep our eyes out for anyone who could come in here!"

It's met with protest of course- the other two are the far less responsible, in the end. But they're diligent enough when Bloom sets off with some of the change to get the 'hot meal' like she intended in the first place.

The 'pilot' is up high, acting as Aerial Surveillance....in her own words.

The witch, meanwhile, darts around various points of the structure as the guard at the ground.

And Reira... ...Well Reira is half asleep inside the playstructure.

They're not great at this.

USES THE SAME FIRST MEETING BECAUSE *SHUSH*

[soft_focus]

[[OOC - LOOK I'LL BE REALLY SURPRISED IF BOTH OF YOU PICK THE SAME ENCOUNTER ANYWAY SO, though I cut short the massive pre-discussion at least...]]

Reira is not a magical girl.

She's supposed to be one day, but she isn't yet. The seers foresaw it.

Her grandmother foresaw it, specifically.

Reira's clothing is questionably so, in the sense of what anyone would bother to wear as clothing. Stark white, it is only a few shades paler than her skin and resembles a set of hospital scrubs more than anything. There are no shoes- the feet are cut somewhat at the soles, and a set of curious bracelets dangle from one arm, one with a shattered blue stone, the others with stones that glisten with seeming power.

But she is not a magical girl, and for the moment she has been told to wait. She waits inside a play fort, entrance hidden in the bottom to be climbed up. No one really seems to come by, so that's quite fine. The girl just stares blankly in the darkness, waiting.

Waiting...

-----

'We'll meet back here.' Such is the agreement that three small, doll sized familiars come to after a brief discussion not far from the Play fort. They have a little one to look after, and they're going to do it properly by golly!

The flowery one is the most responsible of the three...to an extent. Each coin she finds, she diligently stores in some sort of pocket in her dress, floating along with a determined state. "Just a few more, and that should be '15'," she mutters, not quite realizing that 15 coins is not '15 dollars' necessarily. "Now... ...Oh!"

She is quickly distracted by the music playing at a store front, and ends up simply floating in front of the screen to watch.

The Pilot is nervous. Extremely nervous, but she gathers her cards quickly, somehow managing to shove them into her cap. occasionally she lands on something to catch her breath, before getting back to it.

And all the while, she wonders. "Mnh...it's cold...will Reira be cold..?" Oh dear. So worrisome...she flits on, wings to her face as she doubts. "...That should be the first thing to 'buy', I guess...warm things..."

She first has to get the coins, though.

The last one is trickier in her methods. She finds herself a place outside the park, taking in a deep breath at a pile of leaves. "Magic has to do something..! So magic is what I'll use!!" she determines, shaking her broom at the leaves. "Coins, coins! We need coins!!"

The leaves proceed to blow around everything.

Reira Akaba + 3 OC Familiars (Bloom, Windy, Sparrow)

[soft_focus]

[Future Magical Girl Raised By Assholes- Busted Out By Homeless Familiars (more at 11)]

[pipers_son]

Uh oh. "Did I get ya upset?" she asks, leaning forward with elbows to knees and hands to chin. After all, for however subtle an expression that look is, it's still a change from what she's picked up is the normal.

She'd say the answer is also a clue, but, honestly, it seems like conversations with this one are being half phoned in for convenience sometimes. Well, that's fine, things like that happen to her.

[dontpokethat]

"No, actually." It's not really a lie; she certainly wouldn't say she's upset right now. There's a big difference between "kind of annoyed and disgusted" and "upset". "Sorry to disappoint."

[pipers_son]

"Oh, ya would never disappoint me, moonflower~." Another wink, and then she relaxes. Magical elevators are slower than actual engineered elevators, but Joker isn't really surprised. This is probably a strain on her diamond, for one thing, and, for another, she knows that it would be to her advantage if she trapped someone in here to unleash an attack.

...Well, she technically does have someone trapped in here, but the only attack she's unleashing is nicknames.

"But I can still tell ya aren't pleased, despite all the charm I've been tryin' ta lay on!"

[dontpokethat]

Okay, yeah, that's enough. "Stop calling me that. And you'd be surprised - I can be very disappointing."

Is she serious about that, and even proud of it? Maybe, and no. But her deadpan tone might make it hard to say either way.

As obnoxious as this girl might be, Ginko is at least glad that she doesn't seem interested in attacking. She might be practiced in combat, and probably at a greater advantage against another human than she would be against a monster. Against a human, she could at least weaken them by pulling away some energy without fear of adverse effects. But, when it comes down to it, she's not really suited to fighting. The more she can put it off, the better.

The corner of her mouth twitches. "Oh, so that's what that was supposed to be. And here I thought you were just screwing around with me."

Spoilers, she still thinks that.