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ᴋʏōᴋᴀ's ᴅɪᴀʟᴏɢᴜᴇ ᴄᴏʟᴏʀ ✦ [color=#A641C8]#A641C8[/color]
ᴀʀɪᴇʟ's ᴅɪᴀʟᴏɢᴜᴇ ᴄᴏʟᴏʀ ✦ [color=#AC1947]#AC1947[/color][/center]
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Kyōka was fairly sure she'd managed to regain her breath after a moment's rest on the rooftop, and so began looking around for some way to descend without drawing too much attention to herself. She was fairly certain she hadn't been spotted yet, since her initial jump had been from so high up that it would have been difficult to notice her from the street. But, then again, her landing was another matter entirely, as she'd been descending quite rapidly and landed only one story off the pavement. Well, hopefully, she hadn't bothered anyone, so at the very least there was that.

[color=#A641C8]"Umm... Ariel?"[/color] She asked. Something had been bothering her ever since she'd transformed, and now that she thought about it, she couldn't help but want an answer.

[color=#AC1947]"What is it?"[/color] The fairy asked, poking her purple-haired head curiously up out from within the magical girl's hood. Her two loops of hair wobbled a little bit in the wind, bringing a slight smile to Kyōka's face despite herself.

[color=#A641C8]"Well, I was just thinking..."[/color] She stumbled awkwardly over her words. How could she phrase her question in a way that wasn't presumptuous? [color=#A641C8]"That is, when I transformed... Was that whole routine really necessary?"[/color] Ariel winced slightly, signaling that she probably hadn't succeeded at phrasing her question politely. [color=#A641C8]"I mean, if I were trying to fight, then wouldn't staying in one place so long while calling so much attention to myself be dangerous?"[/color]

[color=#AC1947]"Well, strictly speaking, it isn't,"[/color] The fairy said seriously, trying very hard to mask her disappointment. [color=#AC1947]"The speech, posing, and the like aren't really very important. You could just as easily transform by standing still for a few seconds. However, right now, I can't do anything about the delay. It's necessary in order for me to limit the flow of power so that you'll be safe."[/color] She sighed, still seeming surprisingly crestfallen. Was the whole transformation routine really that important to her? Now Kyōka felt bad about questioning it... [color=#AC1947]"But, if you really dislike it so much, you don't need to put on that whole show. I just thought you'd enjoy being more... heroine-like."[/color]

[color=#A641C8]"No, no! It's not that I don't like it..."[/color] She backpedaled hastily. In truth, she thought it was more than a little tacky, but she couldn't bring herself to say that when Ariel already seemed so crestfallen. [color=#A641C8]"It's just that it's a little embarrassing, saying all that stuff about how I'm the defender of the weak and such. It seems kind of like... Well, bragging, I guess."[/color]

[color=#AC1947]"But it's not,"[/color] Ariel returned. [color=#AC1947]"So long as you can do it, it's not 'bragging.' So long as you will do it, it's not a lie. If you keep those things in mind, then it's neither of those things. Rather, it's a promise - that you'll keep people safe."[/color] Kyōka hadn't really thought of it like that. Now that Ariel mentioned it, she supposed that made sense... She'd be re-assured too, if the person who came to save her took the time to tell her that everything was alright. Maybe the speech wasn't so bad after all. It was just... How could she say something like that without panicking when she knew everybody was looking at her? It was so embarrassing just to think about it! [color=#AC1947]"Does that make it any better?"[/color] Ariel asked, cocking her head to the side. Seeing her so serious about this... Kyōka couldn't help but think it would be cruel to refuse, so she caved in almost immediately. Even if it was embarrassing, she didn't want to hurt Ariel's feelings, so she nodded and agreed. [color=#A641C8]"I... guess so."[/color] She was at that moment about to jump off the rooftop and head down to the street to begin her patrol - anything for a change of subject. However, at that instant, two things happened.

[color=#AC1947]"Huh? I'm sensing a magical presence all of a sudden... It's heading this way quite quickly, too!"[/color] Ariel observed, suddenly sounding... nervous? Kyōka definitely didn't like that tone of voice.

[color=#A641C8]"Is it a Negari?"[/color] She asked worriedly. Ariel shook her head.

[color=#AC1947]"I don't think so,"[/color] She replied. [color=#AC1947]"But stay on your guard. Even if it's another Magical Girl, some can be very violent about their territories. If she's already marked this area out as hers, it's possible that she'll try to attack you and drive you away. I don't think she'll seriously try to hurt you, but even so, a Magical Girl isn't an opponent we have the luxury of taking lightly."[/color]

[color=#A641C8]"Umm... About that... I think we have another problem,"[/color] Kyōka stammered sheepishly. Ariel's attention snapped back to her partner in an instant. [color=#AC1947]"What is it?"[/color] She asked immediately.

[color=#A641C8]"Well... umm... I think a person saw us."[/color] She pointed down into the diner's parking lot, where a girl who'd just run up had now stopped and was staring wide-eyed up at the pair on the roof. A couple of people getting out of their cars were beginning to look their way, too, trying to see what it was the frantic girl was pointing at. "That was...!" The girl gasped, panting for breath. Kyōka's legs turned to jelly in an instant. Thanks to that, everybody was looking at her! From somewhere else, another person shouted some kind of snide remark about not standing on roofs and she hadn't thought of that [i]so she probably should have apologized[/i] [i]but first another Magical Girl was coming and she was probably angry at her and[/i] [b]why did this have to be so complicated?![/b] She'd just wanted to take a look around without bothering anyone! Why had it turned out like this, of all things?!

[color=#A641C8]"I... I'msosorryIhavetogonow!"[/color] Kyōka squeaked as she turned and scrambled away from the edge of the roof. First thing was first, if a fight was going to happen, she had to get away from here. This was a business establishment, so she couldn't afford to bring it into the line of fire - least of all when there were bystanders around. So, without really thinking about it, she sprinted to the other side of the roof and jumped off, only to realize mid-fall that she'd just jumped a whole story without any kind of plan for a landing. She landed on her feet, only to immediately flop awkwardly forward, trying and failing to break her fall by rolling, like she'd seen in some of her more action-packed manga. Instead, she quite disgracefully landed flat on her face on the sidewalk next to the diner after falling from a not inconsiderable height.

...So then why was it that apart from a residual shock running through the back of her head, she hardly felt it? Pulling herself to her feet, she was surprised to find that she hadn't sprained her ankle or otherwise injured any part of herself save for her dignity. This form was really something else, to be able to shrug off something like falling off of a building.

But anyway, there was no time for that! She needed to get going before... before...

Before a taller, older girl with long brown hair and bright green eyes came to a stop right in front of her, clad in a fanciful white and gold dress emblazoned with a prominent lightning bolt insignia. Kyōka stifled a gulp.

[color=#A641C8]"Eh... umm... ah... I... er..."[/color] She stammered weakly, already so nervous she couldn't bring the words out. Fortunately for her, unlike how she had been before, she wasn't alone anymore.

[color=#AC1947]"Good evening, Magical Girl."[/color] Ariel's cool, composed voice came to her rescue as the Fairy unfolded her wings, floating up from her perch in the hood of Kyōka's white coat and curtsying elegantly where she floated in mid-air. [color=#AC1947]"My name is Ariel, and this is my partner, Aegis Violet. Is there something we can help you with?"[/color]

Kyōka merely nodded sheepishly and decided to leave the talking to Ariel. Now if only the fairy wasn't so tiny, so she could hide behind her and not be stared at... Her eyes dropped straight to the pavement. This was already bad enough, and if those people from before followed her...

[@shagranoz][@Raineh Daze][@VitaVitaAR]