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]

"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.

[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.

1/2

[pipers_son]

[pipers_son]

"I mean, I could try and screw around with ya, if yer so interested."

[dontpokethat]

"I'm not." She scowls at the walls as they keep rising. This trip cannot end soon enough. "Are you this much of a pain with everyone you meet, or am I just unlucky?"

[pipers_son]

Oh, oh- Joker can't help but giggle to herself, face nudging a little more into her hands. Well, how can she be blamed, when that was such an obvious and open target? Really, if this girl plans on staying in this city for long, she better learn how to trim her words.

"Well, that sort of depends on what ya mean, doesn't it?" She wiggles her fingers out at the other girl from under her chin. "I mean, it's not like anyone else has been around."

[dontpokethat]

See, Ginko's opinion here is that she shouldn't need to worry about her words, because Joker shouldn't be being a little shit. But she guesses there probably isn't a lot she can do to prevent that.

So she'll just do the same thing.

"Nobody else around, huh. Sorry to hear you live in complete isolation. Is that why you're so eager to bother someone?"

[pipers_son]

Jokes on this pretty girl, but Joker thrives for other little shits.

"Oh, absolutely~. And my first visitor is such a pretty young thing, although not the friendliest!" The elevator is starting to slow down- well slower than it already is- and Joker presses her hands onto the floor to push herself up.

"We should become quite good friends, should ya stick around!"

[dontpokethat]

There she goes again. Ginko's lip curls slightly; she'd hope that ignoring that particular joke would get this girl to stop repeating it eventually, but no luck so far.

She straightens up, dropping her arms to her sides again. She readjusts her hold on her remaining pins - just in case. "That doesn't seem likely. Not if you're going to keep this up."

[pipers_son]

"Keep what up?" There's a lot of things she's doing, after all. Really, this girl is going to have to be more specific. "Talkin'? I'm sorry ta disappoint ya, love, but I'm bad at stoppin'."

To the detriment of many, she knows. Joker doesn't let that stop her.

Although she will give a pause as the enormous elevator shudders to a stop, and she bounces over to the gate. There it is, unlocked once more. "Shall I go through first this time, too?"

[dontpokethat]

"That's part of it, sure." She does not specify the rest of what she needs her to stop doing, partly because, frankly, she suspects that if she says anything about the aggressive flirting or the personal space violations, they'll just get worse.

She snorts and gives a short nod, gesturing at the gate. "After you."

[pipers_son]

"So cruel." Lazily, she flings the gate open with the tips of her fingers. "I wonder how ya would feel if I ended up gettin' hurt, little ol' me on my lonesome. I'm not much of a fighter at all." It's said in a kind of lilting tone, that which hints at all sorts of bullshit... but it's true, too. Joker has learned a lot about her abilities like this, with radiance burning at her back to push her forward, and she's mostly learned that her powers don't lend well to physical combat. More through trial and error than experience, she's glad to say...

Good thing that she doesn't need to really worry here and now.

Here, in this part of the building, the influence is a little less obvious. The lights still burn neon pink, but it's not so garishly vaporwave, now. The walls are the same old cheap office walls, and the carpet is worn and plain. There are even doors. If not for the elevator-like structure there interrupting it all, it'd almost be same ol' same ol'. Joker surveys it all casually.

"Guess it must still be around here."

[dontpokethat]

"If you got hurt, I would do something about it." And she would be more willing to believe that this girl might actually be innocent here. Maybe.

Of course, the vagueness of her answer is pretty intentional in itself; Joker is bound to find out what she can actually do at some point, but, under the circumstances, she's not willing to just tell her outright. ...Particularly given that her own powers aren't all that good for combat, either.

Ginko raises her eyebrows slightly, taking in the change in their surroundings. "So, is the area directly around it not as strongly affected?"

[pipers_son]

Honestly, that's actually a good question. Joker has tried to ask plenty herself, when it comes to what her magical roommate has provided her... but she can't ask everything. Not to mention, some things just don't occur to her, especially with little to really get her testing her limits. So she takes a moment to think about it, one hand curled at her chin while she walks.

"Nah, I don't think that's how it works," she says after a moment, glancing into the open doorway leading into a bathroom area. The tile seems tinted a little blue. "I think that means more, uh... That it hasn't had time ta change it?" Her lips purse out curiously. "I don't think I've ever been around ta see what would happen if it changed fully." There's never been any need, after all. Go too far, and, well, where is she then? She's not trying to turn the city into a wasteland. Not only is that bad long-term (she knows basic ecology, at the very least), but, again, it would draw unwelcome attention.

Joker glances behind her. "Do ya believe me, sayin' that?" she asks, lips quirking up in a grin again.

[dontpokethat]

"...Huh. Could be." That's a scary thought. Just how far can these changes go? "What do you mean, you've never been around to see?"

Ginko raises her eyebrows slightly. "Don't see any reason not to, so far. But, believe me, if I find one I'll let you know." Even if she is lying, Ginko can't see where there would be much point to it. Why this place hasn't been changed yet doesn't mean much either way; she's just going to take down the cause of it all either way.

[pipers_son]

"I mean what I say, ghost. I don't stick around that long." And, because of that choice, neither do her cards. Her sentient night light might not like the idea of calming the fuck down a little, but Joker is the one going out, Joker is the one using the cards, and so Joker is the one who gets to make those judgment calls.

Before she can say much else, however, there's the faint sound of metal sliding against medal. There's no horrendous screech, like rust skittering across itself, but more like half a dozen knives being pulled out all at once. "Oh," she says conversationally. "That would be it. It sounds more menacin' than it is, if it makes ya feel better."

[dontpokethat]

'Ghost' is a new one. And marginally less obnoxious than the last couple, which might say something about Ginko as a person. Anyway, it won't stop her from taking the chance to make a dig at this girl. "Oh, you don't? Good to hear."

Ginko's attention flicks to the strange sound, and she flips her pins between her fingers, getting them ready. The fact that it's metal is a little worrying; depending on how this particular monster works, she might not be able to hurt it with pins. If all else fails, she might have to hunt down her teammates for help. "Very reassuring."

[pipers_son]

"Trust me, trust me~." Or don't. Joker's expectations are low right now, after all, and she won't expect such a goody two-shoes to go along with her. Either way, she leads her along, still relaxed and unarmed herself. It's not as if her powers lend well to combat anyway. Eventually, the hallway opens up into a large office-space.

At least, at one point, it was probably an office-space.

Now, all the office desks and their little rolling chairs have been sent scattered to the sides. Some of them are just plain shoved, turned bottom over top and to the side. Others are a little more.... strange. It's as if an enthusiastic gamer has found a way to hack inside reality, forcing things to clip through one another. Desks and chairs alike are merged into the walls, some high up, others nearly into the ceiling, not belonging but not crashed through either. Everything has been cleared out of the center area, where carpet and scattered pieces of neon tile.

There, right in the middle, is indeed a metal peacock around the height of an adult human person.

The strange color of the lights shimmers across the warped metal, which makes up the majority of it, including most of its tail. There are indeed, however, five brilliant green diamonds on certain feathers... and two more making up its eyes as it suddenly jolts its head up and turns around to face the two. The very movement of its body, long tail dragging along the ground, earns more of that metal screeching. It doesn't attack, however. There's only staring.

Joker points cheerfully at the creature. "Don't attack it, and it won't attack ya in turn! Nice, huh?"

[dontpokethat]

"Hmm." Yeah, no, she doesn't.

Now, though, any question of her companion's trustworthiness is going to have to be set aside for the moment, as Ginko takes in the absolute mess in front of her. Her fingers twitch, another minute adjustment to her hold on her pins.

She gives Joker a flat look. "Great. I don't suppose you'd know how else to get it out of here?"

[pipers_son]

"I mean, do ya got some birdseed?" Ha ha.

After a moment of gauging if there's any threat, the peacock begins to dig its way through the floor with a combination of talons and beak, determined to break through. That catches Joker's attention, just a little bit, and she lazily begins to stroll around the office space while giving the bird a decent bit of space.

"Does it really bother ya that it's around here? Seems almost peaceful like this, doesn't it?" That's the benefit of a Diamond, admittedly. They're a little more calm than a Club. "Although I'm not sure how else you would get it out, either."

[dontpokethat]

"It really does, yes." Wow okay Ginko doesn't trust like that. Her eye narrows at the bird as it starts digging, and she opts to follow Joker, staying just a few feet back. "'Peaceful' or not, I'm not leaving it here to keep making people sick." And to collect energy for whatever the fuck its boss is trying to do.

"Neither am I. But it sounds a lot like you have an idea of how you would."