TheWendil

Gods, Angels, Demons in New Haven Definitive HD Mix Edition

Sounds good to me.

Grimoiric Heart

Escorting the most dangerous Magical Girl through the ruined academy invoked a lot of feelings in Valeria. She settled on appearing firm and resolute as the villain was taken to be held in the dungeons. "Do you ever not speak in confusing riddles!? Wie nervig!" Valeria swore in German and pressed the confusing mage along. She could not even begin to understand her and her lofty plans for all Magical Girls. She wanted the simple things in her life to remain there, to have her powers work and her world to resemble the tools and constructs she made. Simple and elegant.

This led to make Valeria very shocked when the Minister announced she was happy that Roma had been returned to her. She had never gotten along with the Grand Minister, seeing her as too eager to ignore dangers and put their Magical Girls at risk. She nearly wished to say something but held back for the sake of unity. The students were on edge enough, teachers arguing with the staff wouldn't help matters. Increasingly she became annoyed at how more involved she's getting in the Ministry's business but determined it is for the best for now if villains like Moonlight are around and active. The students were able to calm themselves, thanks to the new faculty member, Mika. At least Valeria thought she was new, as she hadn't yet seen her before. She'd have to introduce herself after this was over.

Her companion was a little quieter; in fact, Ozma hadn’t said much of a word since the Grand Minister appeared. The calming presence that stirred and picked at even her own heart was so typical and like the school’s leader, Merlin’s innate gifts often feeling like actual magic sometimes and not by the facet of a Grimoire. Case in point, she put to ease the initial suffering of Roma’s victims, lulling them to a blissful sleep ready for Eins and her treatment.

Still, Ozma wished she could say she was surprised by the Grand Minister’s persona but she wasn’t. The other girl sometimes, often times, felt truly bizarre and alien compared to the students she doted on. There was something almost inhuman about the way she spoke and carried herself, let alone the words of content she actually gave. As expected, students and teachers alike were baffled and outraged by her decision to greet Roma like a long-lost child, even if it were true in the technical sense.

So much so that students even took it upon themselves to act, Lupin’s attack only intercepted by Burning Heart’s counter. But Ozma half-suspected the Grand Minister was never in any real danger; indeed, she saw her reaction to the corrupted Magical Girl before her. The Grand Minister stared back at Roma, an expression devoid of much else but patterned acknowledgement before she gave the girl a light smirk as if she knew the attempt on the traitor’s life was inevitable; so too it was its inevitable prevention from Burning Heart and Oros.

Ozma saw all she needed to see, moving now. She briefly caught Silvia’s eye, the usually apathetic girl suddenly looking more dour than usual. She wondered what that was about but frankly, had no time to appeal to the students when this Bhakti debacle was at play.

“That’s enough,” she said, her voice suddenly amplified for the entire room to hear. A finger traced a red rune in the air that hovered near her lips. “We all know Roma is responsible for the infected Grimoires today, but I think we’re all forgetting she’s also the only one who knows how to reverse the process. Killing her would invalidate any way of curing the victims.” She cast a light but understanding glare at Lupin and Tesni.

Heavy drops of water soaked her costume, the brim witch’s hat lopsided from the sprinklers. But even so, her eyes glinted like red points of warmth as she acknowledged the gathered girls. “Until we find a way to cure the victims, Roma Bhakti will remain imprisoned in the school. While today shows Marrywell isn’t the safest place in the world, it does remain the most secure prison for Magical Girls. The staff will decide her fate after we’ve seen her damage undone.”

The Crimson Comet finished her announcement, the promise of punishment acceptable for most students and teachers. Still, if Roma was intent on shaking Marrywell’s body she succeeded. All the same, even her actions weren’t as unnerving to her as the Grand Minister’s complacency with the turn of events.

All of that was indication for Valeria to finally escort Roma away from public eyes and into the school's holding grounds. She nudged the girl with occasional German curses and a quick mutter of, "So about that kiss...." to Ozma before the two were out of the scene. Ozma followed but not before passing Maria a quick word to keep an eye on the students. And not without noticing the Grand Minister was still smiling even after all this either. Be it to herself or something unseen, Ozma didn't know and didn't want to ponder on right now anyway.

---

Gods, Angels, Demons in New Haven Definitive HD Mix Edition

No worries.

Tower of Fable

“Is there a problem here?”

An impossible chill tickled the souls of those gathered but it felt almost warm in its familiarity to any other Jester. A gloved hand gently clapped Yui’s shoulder from behind, its grip subtle but firm in keeping her in place. The hand’s owner looked down on the green girl, a serrated smile aimed her way before she looked to the now newly reformed bluenette. The face was familiar; in fact, she looked all but identical to Nephy. But Kanbaru could tell this was not the undead samurai. Something was off, something was changed, and the familiarity grew.

Pale blue eyes stared through Yui now like a feral predator. The exact circumstances were unknown to any around but Harley and perhaps the JSTR, but this was no Nephy. The pulse of the Jester’s creed, of Zoroa’s touch, emanated in whatever was left of a heart the wolf held. “Is she bothering you?” Mastephos repeated to Kanbaru. Her grip on Yui’s shoulder tightened just a little. Kanbaru’s observations on the two former Magical Girls weren’t entirely correct, as pointed out swiftly by Apia.

The bee girl held Uathach’s mark claimed on her soul while the green one oozed the scent and floral natural of the Vassal of Nature. At least one of those two had less leniency in Harley’s Casino by association. “If she’s bothering you, I’ll throw her out in pieces,” Mastephos said, the madness of all Jesters now peering at her prey. She waited for any excuse to be set loose.

Harley chuckled further away, observing the scene but not really. Her attention was split between that hilarity and Akiko, the cat girl seemingly resolved to leave the Tower’s journey for good. “Well, if that’s what you want. I’m not going to stop you if you want to waste time somewhere else. But if it’s that princess you miss, you really shouldn’t worry,” Harley said with a diluted sneer. “You can visit her any time you want. Who’s going to stop you? You’re one of us now~”

Her words held the unspoken understanding imparted on Akiko. One of us. So long as she adhered to Zoroa’s philosophy willingly, she could do whatever she wanted. And if not, well, all of that could be taken away in a heartbeat. “You’ll be hunted from now on. That Tower is no longer your friend and the force that controls it will do all that it can to destroy you. But you already knew that huh~?” The Vassal finished her piece, idly pointing in a random direction.

“Knock yourself out kid. If you need any pick me ups, you know how to call your fellow clowns.” Despite her vague instructions, Akiko would instinctively know how to exit the cosmic casino once and for all. Doing so of course would have put Riku’s situation on full display to her. Katie wondered once again how the princess even managed this, not too far away from the stage.

Just before she could make any sort of plan of action, a familiar voice caught her attention and Katie turned to see a boy. “Thomas? I thought you were dead,” she said bluntly, her cousin baffling laughter and mirth beside her at Riku’s fate. “Both of you, listen up. Planning an attack is meaningless in this place when the law is governed by fate and luck. It’s better we simply follow those rules. I trust you don’t mind those sort of expenses, but you look like you already have that covered.”

Indeed, Erika was already wafting away fat wads of cash, passing it by whoever looked cute in her fancy; mostly the bunny maids. “After you buy her freedom back, come with me. There’s something we need to do,” she told Erika in earnest, catching sight of a spectral nun among the crowd. It was better they control Riku’s fate then whatever the JSTR had involved. “You have anything to bid with you Thomas?”

---

Gods, Angels, Demons in New Haven Definitive HD Mix Edition

It should be Fading and Sonbomb, yes.

Grimoiric Heart

The mall became a smoldering wreck, more so than it already was. That much was to be expected with Maria finally transforming in who knew how long. Still, the place was already abandoned. From a tactical standpoint it wiped out Roma’s potential hiding spot, Ozma reasoned in her head. If she wanted to come back, she’d have to find a new base of operations. Maybe their faux mission wasn’t so fruitless after all? Of course, none of that mattered if any of the students were hurt. The Crimson Comet appeared in the lingering embers of Maria’s flames.

Still on her broom and having kept her distance from the teacher’s fight, she weaved her hands in motions as red runes and cast spells came forth to put out any remaining fires Maria started as well as fix any damage that seemed too obvious. It would be just their luck humans discovered the existence of Magical Girls. “I came back because Valeria asked me to. And to make sure you were alright,” Ozma finally said. Mentally of course. Maria could handle herself.

“The students are protected. I trust Valeria to keep them safe.” A pause. “You can yell at me all you like about all this. After we finish our work. I suspect we’ll have our hands busy for a while now.” Her trademark smirk returned, more so to save face than anything else but it grew wider and genuine as she heard the rumbling shot of a boom in the distance. It sounded like one of Valeria’s tanks. “Besides, I think you’ll want to have a word with the culprit more than me anyway. Let’s head back to the school.” And head back they would.

The scenery that greeted them on Marrywell’s grounds was to be expected. It was bittersweet. On one hand, there in lay the destruction and damage, the many Magical Girls afflicted with a poison to their Grimoires no doubt by Roma’s hand. Ozma’s expression steeled momentarily at the sight. Whether it was distress or rage or perhaps even familiarity; it was difficult to say but her gaze remained vigilant. But the closer she observed, the more positives she found.

As it would turn out, Roma truly was crazy enough to attack the Grand Ministry on her own. The end result showed there wasn’t actually that much damage, at least any caused by her own hand. Ozma suspected Tesni was probably involved in some way; the Dynasty Queen could hold a terrible grudge. Whatever Pageless Roma summoned were since left slain by older Magical Girls and even those touched by her perverse Grimoire altering were tended to by Drossel the Tuner. Those first victims were already making a slow but steady recovery, their stories maintained under the librarian’s careful hand and tutelage in skill.

What was perhaps the most uplifting sight was Roma herself, carted and brought in by Valeria. The German easily made it back to the school before Ozma and Maria, as if to bring swift judgement for the sins Roma committed just an hour or so ago. Still, the entire scene, as hopeful as it was, remained off putting. “Go and help the students,” she told Maria, already moving to apprehend Roma with Valeria. Did Marrywell even have a holding center for the insane Magical Girl? It had been so long, Ozma almost forgot if they did.

Still, even this close to the out of touch girl, it wasn’t Roma’s presence that unnerved her. No, it was rather the lack of one. Where was she? Of all times to answer her school’s calls and actually do something for once…where was the Grand Minister? A familiar annoyance furrowed Ozma’s features. Now, more than ever, Marrywell, no, every Magical Girl present needed their forthcoming leader in these trying times-

“Have no fear my dear wizard. I am here.”

The Crimson Comet glanced to the school’s main officer where the Grand Minister usually made her residence. There, stepping down from the steps; there she was. Her presence was enough to make other Magical Girls pause, some outright puzzled and others jabbing each other in collecting bets that their leader was, in fact, actually real. Ozma swore the sun shined just a little brighter with each word she spoke.

“Ahhh….what’s become of my school?" the Grand Minister said with a smile. Clearly, she already knew the answer.

---

Grimoiric Heart

Interesting.

Gods, Angels, Demons in New Haven Definitive HD Mix Edition

---

“Oh. I see….”

She really didn’t see, but by the way these people talked and the confidence that backed up her words, Jane was hard-pressed to deny them. Everyone spoke so much more seriously than her, with an air of dour melancholy that spoke levels of their experience. Even Cathal, light as he was, still held the tinge of age in his voice, no stranger to dark dealings by his own admittance. It made the girl suddenly feel small among all these other detectives, inconsequential.

Abigail and Montag himself both gave their pieces, pointing out the grim realities that painted this town in shadow and blood. If these cases were so simple to solve, then obviously the police would have done something about it a long time ago. The fact they didn’t, or couldn’t, no, wouldn’t was all the indication they needed specialized people. Jane internally critiqued herself for not figuring that out, common sense in this line of work. Even so, tracking down a murderer was not appealing and her energy lowered, not adding much to the discussion.

She didn’t need to. Intruding on the musings of this Timothy Jones and Abigail’s latest speech was a new voice. Jane nearly jumped out her skin when a new man barged through the door; the looks of his clothing indicated a local dock worker. What he said made Jane pale over briefly more so than anything else prior. A murder just took place? Her heart raced an inch quicker at that prospect. Now there was no time to debate or even prepare in their investigative work. Fear gripped her chest and yet….

“We should start our investigation now, right? If the murder was recent then that means the killer should still be around? Nearby?” What was she saying? Every sense in her head screamed at her to shut up and keep quiet, panic inducing her tone; she hoped no one noticed. Still, the idea of preventing another tragedy was much too great and she was already heading out the door, trying to get past Kasper.

“Maybe split up? There’s a lot of us so we can cover more ground that way?” she asked the others, knowing full well she had little right to order them around.

---

Grimoiric Heart

Got bored. Here's a Discord server. Go nuts.

Grimoiric Heart

What I'm getting from this is just, so everyone can be in one place together and have a more jointed community for the RP. While I don't feel that's explicitly necessary for this, there's also no cost to just making one for you all to talk to each other.

I'll think on it.