7 ❧ now you're just somebody that I used to know

[headedforhope]

[ A | 916 Bilko Boulevard; locked to housemates

It's not like before, all those months ago, when Mami woke up and could only scream out her anguish and despair. There's no crushing weight of broken hope here; no awful, hollow feeling. She simply cracks open eyes that are no longer set in a young, girlish face, eyes that aren't golden anymore, and murmurs sleepily in tones far too deep to be her own.

.....

She comes awake by degrees, easing upright, feeling the strangeness even further - this isn't her body. She's not built like this, has this skin, ever ran her fingers through hair that was cropped exceedingly short. Mami looks at hands that are no longer her own, not really, curling the fingers into fists out of a dazed surprise. The outburst is slow to build.]

Wh....What?!

[And that voice? That body? Belong to someone else entirely. Normally, Mami's control over herself is remarkable for a girl her age. Bordering on unnatural, even, in many cases. But it slips now, sudden and jarring, and the result is a loud explosion that sets the bedroom dresser alight with green flame.]

[ B + C | Mayfield; The streets, various shops

Once calm again, Mami decides to cautiously test out this new body her conscious mind has taken roost in. The events of this morning have proven two things of vital importance: she's incredibly powerful now, and it's a power she must be careful to control. Now more than ever, Mami has to keep a tight grip over her emotions. At least she has a lot of experience when it comes to that.

The first thing she'll be doing is exploring a new, instinctive semi-omniscience; if your character exchanged names with her at one point and can be considered friends/someone she'd reasonably seek out, she will be tracking them down to explain things. After all, someone is running around in her real body doing god knows what, and misunderstandings simply wouldn't do. (B.) She can also be observed simply standing in place, looking deep in concentration, before blipping out of sight and reappearing several yards away. Or in a tree. Or on top of passerby. This body is capable of rapid teleportation - something worth figuring out how to control. (C.)

All of Doc Scratch's CR is free to intercept at any time!]

[ D | Phone call; unfiltered

The voice coming out of Doc Scratch's throat is full of a strained courtesy, a faint annoyance grating at the edges, when the call goes out.]

Hello, Mayfield. I must say, this is one of the most.....unamusing incidents yet. If anyone finds this funny, I can't help but assume that they have extremely poor taste.

[ooc: responses will come from scratchedhope]

Comments

Action ☆

[fatedmagica]

[ Madoka's noticed that things seem a bit... off, today. She can't really put her finger on what the exact problem is, a fact supported by how she doesn't want to be rude and consider anyone's behavior 'strange'. There's a chance it is their normal behavior and she would feel awful bringing it up.

Assuming she's someone 'he' might approach, Madoka gives Doc Scratch a curious and somewhat concerned look. After a second of staring, wondering why some stranger is walking towards her, Madoka straightens her posture and bows. ] U-Um... g-good morning! Sir..?

[scratchedhope]

[Mami holds in a sigh with no small amount of effort. Of course she had seen this coming - that was the whole point of this venture, to seek out her friends and acquaintances and explain things before misunderstandings did too much damage.]

Good morning, Kaname-san. [She manages a small smile.] Given outward appearances, I suppose it's only natural that you don't know who I am.

[fatedmagica]

um, I...

[ She peeks up at him shyly. How does he know her name? Though, Madoka only knows a handle of people who address her like that... ]

Ma... Mami-san? [ Her voice is soft. How can that be possible? Mami can't just turn into an older gentleman! ]

[scratchedhope]

[A nod.] That's right, Kaname-san. It seems impossible, doesn't it? But let me explain...

[She offers up her hands, palms up in a gesture of peace, buying herself a little time to marshal her thoughts properly.]

...it seems that the town has messed around with our bodies. Someone else's mind, their consciousness, is in my body - and the reverse holds true as well. There are probably a lot of people acting strange today because of that.

[fatedmagica]

I-I see... So it's another trick...

[ Whoever is in Mami's body... Madoka wonders if they've been put into her soul gem or her body. Either way, her head is now filled with worries. She'll need to find Mami's body and soul gem quickly. ]

I'm relieved that you're okay... I guess it must be really weird to be switched... [ A pause, as she realizes she assumed. ] Or, um... you are okay, aren't you?

[scratchedhope]

It definitely feels weird! I've never been this tall, for starters, or had my hair so short. [She laughs, more to reassure Madoka than out of any genuine amusement. The sound is low, a manly chuckle that sounds strange to her own ears.

Then Mami smiles, the skin around her eyes (no longer golden, no longer young) crinkling with the sincerity of the expression. Madoka's concern never fails to be touching.]

But yes, I'm okay. It doesn't hurt at all to be like this.

[fatedmagica]

I'm really glad... [ It's strange, but even when 'her' voice and smile are so different it's still plain to Madoka that they are Mami's. The combination of these two familiar things finally calms Madoka enough to push her worries aside... just enough so that they don't drive her thoughts. ]


I guess, um... Mami-san, the person whose body this is... do you know who he is? I wonder what he's supposed to be doing today...

[scratchedhope]

[The warmth bleeds from her smile. Mami shakes her head.]

No, I'm afraid I don't. He's a complete stranger to me - I don't even know his name. [...] But I plan to go searching for him. I want to know how he's been treating my body.

[fatedmagica]

Well um... I've had pretty good attendance at school lately, so... Mami-san, I could help? I don't want you to switch back and have things to worry about, so... If it's okay, I'd like to help you to look!

[scratchedhope]

[A pause; she eyes Madoka with concern.]

Are you sure? There's no telling if this man is someone dangerous to cross or not. And while I doubt he knows how to properly, ah, use it....being in my body means he's powerful.

B

[drank_the_milk]

[Huh. Yuna's pretty sure she doesn't know this guy walking up to her, but being polite never hurt anyone.]

Um... hello!

[scratchedhope]

...Akashi-san.

[This is serious. Look at my serious old man face.]

Do you have a moment? [or perhaps several.]

[drank_the_milk]

Akashi-san...

[Yuna blinks a few times before her eyes go wide. There's really only one person in town who calls her that.]

Mami?!

[scratchedhope]

[Manners, always manners.

A fleeting surprise crosses Doc Scratch's face; Mami didn't expect to be identified that quickly. Perhaps by Madoka, by another magical girl from home, but not Yuna. The look quickly fades, though, as Mami reasserts control.]

My, and I didn't even have to try and explain myself first....

[drank_the_milk]

You're the only one in town who calls me Akashi-san instead of just Yuna. Who else would it have been?

[Yuna grins, looking briefly proud of herself. But then it's back to seriousface.]

But what's going on? Why are you in someone else's body? And why is it a man's body?

[scratchedhope]

[She manages a smile, the expression feeling awkward on her face and quick to fade.]

Honestly, I wish I knew the answers to both of those questions. My guess would be that it's the town again - and that the magic isn't picky about who gets swapped with who.

[Smoothing back the old man white hair 'do. Mami's still not used to her lack of curls.]

[drank_the_milk]

Well, this definitely explains why you were acting so weird when I saw you at the bakery earlier. I thought something felt a little off.

[scratchedhope]

[That gives Mami a chill underneath her calm facade. Just what has this other person been up to?]

They were at the bakery? What did they do?

[drank_the_milk]

Ordered a slice of cake. That's the first thing I thought was weird. But then whoever it was said it was for someone's birthday party.

d for daaamn gurl, also placeholder

[whitetextgirl]

[Ah, it's her again. Very good to hear she's still ok.]

I find it amusing, if not slightly irritating. It won't be more than a week if anything. Have you been taking care of my body since we last met? [Of course talking about the park run-in (even though it needs to be threaded still, shh)]

C

[finallyhasthumbs]

[Dave (in Kyouko's body) is just... staring.]

What the fuck are you doing?

[... wow it must be jarring to hear a snarky 13 year old boy's voice come out of some cute youkai girl's mouth. BEST USE OF ECHO POWERS, MAKING THIS SLIGHTLY LESS/MORE CONFUSING]

[scratchedhope]

[That's a voice Mami remembers, but dimly - her acquaintance with Dave was months ago, and shallow, and with a "different" Dave altogether. In this chaotic and strange situation, the faint memory slips beyond her reach. So she regards Dave!Kyouko (or is it Kyouko!Dave???) only with a composed sort of puzzlement, and decides to be honest.]

Testing the powers of this body, of course.

[A pause, and again there's that look of concentration before something clicks and Mami blips out of sight to reappear directly behind Dave.]

I think I'm getting the hang of it.

[finallyhasthumbs]

Oh god someone else has super-pedo's body.

[That blip makes him fucking jump and spin around to face her, backing away like she's radioactive (she probably is)]

Holy shit did he swap with another pedophile? This is like, one thousand times worse now that I'm an actual little girl on not, like, a bird.

[scratchedhope]

Actually, I'm around the same age as you, judging by your voice.

[Calmly folds arms and studies ye. Nope, not taking the "pedo" bait....although she does file the accusation away for later.]

How are you doing that, by the way?

[finallyhasthumbs]

Apparently this girl's some kind of "youkai" japanese voodoo monster thing or whatever despite being kawaii as fuck. I guess that's Japan for you. And her power is over echoes or some bullshit?

It basically means I can imitate any voice I hear.

[He switches to Scratch's voice, and having spoken with him, mannerisms and everything]

I can even be an excellent host and claim omniscience despite a being completely creepy especially coming from a little girl's mouth now.

[And back to his own]

Oh god damnit why did I even say that I feel like I need to go brush my teeth with like, bleach or something.

[Things that should never come up in conversation, ever: Scratch "coming from a little girl's mouth".]

B horrible horrible horrible

[imoutos]

[ Huh..? Nadeko can't be helped but feel a little surprised to see Doc Scratch.. but then again, they get along reasonably well, so it's a good thing to see him at least, right? So Nadeko - obliviously - can't help but smile just a little, even if some of her shyness lingers as usual. ]

Oji-san..! G-good day!

B is for BUT WHYYYY

[scratchedhope]

[The manly brows furrow at that, even as Mami feels a certain relief at finding Nadeko easily....it seems as though this semi-omniscience can be relied on. More easily, anyway, than the explosions from earlier.]

Ah, Sengoku-san.....there you are. [a pause, faintly awkward; Mami is used to being small, and dainty, and possessing a girlish sort of poise. Here, she has to pull off a polite bow from the waist rather than a curtsy.] My apologies, but I'm afraid it hasn't been a very good day so far. I need to talk to you about an important matter.

MUMI-WHO'S-NOT-MUMI WHYYY

[imoutos]

S-- Sengoku-san..? [ She's not used to Scratch calling her like that at all, so.. cue confusion, really, and she frowns a little too. ]

Is.. s-something wrong..?

[scratchedhope]

Unfortunately, there is.

[Mami adjusts the bowtie fastened neatly at her throat, the gesture hiding a certain nervousness. She can't expect to easily convince Nadeko of the truth - that's a dangerous sort of hope to harbor.]

Ah, how to put this....the town is up to new tricks this time. I'm not this "oji-san", not really - I'm just possessing their body, it seems. Me, Tomoe Mami.

[A light canting of her head to the side as she studies Nadeko's face, waiting for the surprise and disbelief to show.]

Sounds crazy, huh?

[imoutos]

... Huh? [ Yes, surprise is definitely what shows first. Because the one standing in front of her is someone she clearly recognizes, but.. it's still not who she thinks it is? This isn't Mami, right? But..

... Scratch wouldn't lie to her. He's too nice for that (dream on, Nadeko) so.. ]

T-Tomoe-san..? You're.. in oji-san's body..?

[scratchedhope]

[She relaxes a little, although not much. In this body, it seems, control is of utmost importance. Just ask the dresser Mami blew up this morning....]

I'm glad you believe me, although I don't mind proving it if you need to be convinced further. After all, Tomoe-san and Sengoku-san.....have memories they've only shared with each other, right?

[Mami smooths down her short, white, neatly cropped hair.]

Yes, that's exactly the case. And your oji-san is in mine.

[imoutos]

[ ... Oh. Hm. She was.. holding hands.. with him just earlier.. that's sort of awkward now in retrospect. Hence why Nadeko is probably blushing a little bit out of feeling flustered.. ]

N.. no! I-it's fine, Tomoe-san doesn't have to prove anything..! I-I'll believe it!

[scratchedhope]

[Mami of course notices the blush - she notices so many things, is usually so keenly aware of what goes on around her - but can't imagine any particular story that can be attached to it. Nadeko was always prone to such expressions anyway, wasn't she?]

Ah, thank you....that's very kind. Well, I just wanted to let you know what was going on - misunderstandings like this wouldn't do anyone any good.

[A pause.]

I do have to wonder, though, if there's any rhyme or reason to this incident at all. It could turn out to be quite dangerous if it lasts too long.

[imoutos]

[ white vans that's the story behind it..!! ]

Y-yes, it does seem a little strange.. I'm not sure what happened either, I-I haven't heard of people switching bodies before at all yet..

[ ... ] Um.. T-Tomoe-san's feeling okay though, right..?

[scratchedhope]

[this is why we need "to catch a predator: mayfield edition"]

Hm, not at all? I guess this is definitely a first for Mayfield. [She considers the question, then decides to answer honestly after a nod.] Yes, I'm fine. It feels odd being in this body, and I can't say I'm completely used to it yet, but it doesn't hurt and I've begun to gain control over these powers.

[imoutos]

[ doc scratch, please take a seat. ]

Hmm.. More weird things happen often, b-but I've never seen something like this.. [ and she's been here for a year now. ]

... 'These powers'..?

[ that makes her blink, though. ]

[scratchedhope]

[SUDDENLY, DOUBLE CRIS HANSEN ALL ACROSS THE SKY]

Here, I'll show you. [And at first, nothing happens. Mami is just standing there in Doc Scratch's body, her habits of grace influencing his body language, making it fluid and self-assured. Then she utterly disappears, reappearing directly behind Nadeko.

There's the faintest hint of a teasing grin in her voice.]

See?

[imoutos]

[ ... Huh? Where did he/she go... Nadeko just looks around curiously before hearing that voice behind her and she just JUMPS UP in surprise, please don't give the poor girl a heart attack, Mami.. but yes, at least she can turn now. ]

Tomoe-san c-can do all of that now..? That's amazing..!