♙ 001. [ voice, action ]

[gekiken]

[ For the past few days, since she'd awoken in this strange new place, Peko had taken it upon herself to investigate her new surroundings. It was prudent to gather as much information as possible, especially in the case that things went as badly here as they did back on the island. Granted, she probably looked a little ridiculous to anyone who happened upon her in her attempts to investigate every corner of the place, but it could not be helped. 

Once she felt confident in her acquisition of the lay of the land, Peko made her way to the library. She had found the computer network on a prior expedition, but hadn't felt the need to announce her presence at the time.

When the voice recording starts up, the sound is of a calm, sharp woman's voice. ]

Hello. I am called Pekoyama Peko, and I believe that I am considered to be "new here". 

I have had the basics of this place explained to me, although I will admit to a few questions....such as why the afterlife occurs in a high school of all places. However, I imagine the answer to that question is not widely known. 

[ A pause. ]

More importantly, I seek a weapon. I have heard of the dangers of the shadows, and I would also like to keep my swordsmanship skills from becoming rusty from disuse.

[ Plus, she feels a sense of discomfort, being disarmed at the moment - even if there are no clear and present threats, she was unused to not having any sort of weaponry on her person. ]

Any assistance that can be offered in procuring a sword would be much appreciated.

Second Breath ; Video; Amazed Dragon

[qhaellizith]

[On the screen is a red-eyed woman in a jersey. Judging by how she looms against the background of the apartment she had been directed to by a NPC, she's rather tall. She grins, revealing sharp teeth and begins speaking enthusiastically and loudly, without even pausing.]

This certainly isn't what I expected to see after death! Are you humans really capable of creating those things? There're so many unbelievable mechanisms! Far beyond anything I would've thought possible with even the most clever use of levers and gears! I was telling the other dragons they should be paying more attentions to the interesting things humans were making, like windmills! They didn't care to listen. Well, it's their loss for not realizing how much wealth you can gain from interacting with humans, especially with their financial systems.

[At least she seems to be slowing down a little.]

This is one of the most strange things I've seen, a mechanism capable of showing many different pictures and even other people speaking. I would've thought it actually had little people in it, but the human I dragged in here explained how to use this to speak to you all. For some reason he seemed flustered when I told him to come in with me. I don't know either why he seemed so disappointed when I sent him off after his explanations. Well, he was the most boring human I'd ever met anyway! Oh, right, he might've been one of those NPC things mentioned in that earlier... um, what was the word again? I'll just say that earlier speech on this thing. It was very informative and useful! If a little confusing.

Oh, speaking of that, I want someone to show me how to do this 'atomic restructuring' thing. I'll repay you, naturally.

one ♋ action

[replayed]

[ It was like a dream that wouldn't go away. In the courtyard area in front of the middle school division is a young girl, fourteen, who is clutching her heart in her hand, falling onto her knees as she takes quick, short breaths, almost as if she's unable to breathe.

Memories flash into her mind quickly; memories that she wanted to erase from her mind. All the deaths, pain, sorrow -- all of it, she carried on her back, over and over again. Repeatedly. And now, she had failed. She knew that all too well.

Yet, her last words were reassuring. "Magical girls make hopes and dreams come true, after all." But she knew now that she couldn't fulfill that promise.

It was impossible. She was, after all, dead. And just like that, tears rolled down the girl's cheeks, not knowing or caring that she was alone.

Her cool composure was gone, just like that. She soon speaks one word, her voice slightly mumbled. ]

Madoka...

[ There's nothing she can do now. She's no longer a magical girl; she can't do anything anymore. And she didn't remember dying, yet she knew that she was quite dead. The lack of her soul gem told all.

In the end, Homura just sits there, curled up as her eyes glaze over, defeated. Dare to bother? ]