# The script of the game goes in this file.

# Declare characters used by this game. The color argument colorizes the
# name of the character.

define j = Character("Jo")
define v = Character("Vera")
define jv = Character("Jo and Vera")
define k = Character("Konnie")
define h = Character("Hannah")
define s = Character("Sie")
define q = Character("???")
define kv = Character("Grizzled Voice")
define vv = Character("Curious Voice")
define hv = Character("Summmery Voice")
define f1 = Character("Excited Fan")
define f2 = Character("Young Fan")
define f3 = Character("Sweaty Fan")
define f4 = Character("Nervous Fan")
define rv = Character("Pleasant Voice")
define r = Character("Robert")
define fcr = Character("FCR Organizer")
define ha = Character("Polite Assistant")
define me = Character("Mel")
define sv = Character("Smarmy Voice")
define t1 = Character("Annoyed Teen")
define t2 = Character("Anxious Teen")
define t3 = Character("Excited Teen")
define wv1 = Character("Robotic Voice")
define wv2 = Character("Jo's Wand")
define wv3 = Character("Wand")
define na = Character("News Anchor")
define gr = Character("Gym Receptionist")
define sj = Character("Jo and Sie")
define sw = Character("Tenko")
define mv = Character("Warm Voice")
define m = Character("Miri")
define pg = Character("Practice Group")
define a = Character("Announcer")

#images
init:

    image hannah excited = "hannah/excited.png"
    image jo gay = "jo/jo_portraitgay.png"
    image display test = "displaybackground/displaybox.png"

# The game starts here.

label before_main_menu:
    call screen splash_logo #Here, we are calling our already made "Press to Start" screen.

label start:

    # Show a background. This uses a placeholder by default, but you can
    # add a file (named either "bg room.png" or "bg room.jpg") to the
    # images directory to show it.

    scene bg room

    show screen walkman
    # This shows a character sprite. A placeholder is used, but you can
    # replace it by adding a file named "eileen happy.png" to the images
    # directory.

    # These display lines of dialogue.

    show display test:
        xpos 0
        ypos 0
    show jo gay:
        xpos 854
        ypos 0

    "A soft, scratchy cassette static fills the void in-between tracks."

    "Jo silently counts the beats."

    "One.
    {w}Two.
    {w}At three, on the dot, the electric twang of the guitar kicks up.
    {w}Soft metallic hi-hat chirps lead into a smooth saxophone.
    {w}Drumbeats underscore dreamy lyrics."

    "\"Dolphin in Town\",
    {w}Kingo Hamada
    {w}{i}- Midnight Cruisin'{/i}
    {w}(1982)"

    "As the railway glides silently beneath her, Jo taps her feet and sways her head to the summery beats dancing in her ears."

    "Her rhythm gets disrupted by a soft hum reverberating from within her pocket."

    "A practiced motion slides her phone out from its polycotton enclosure.
    {w}Its bright digital display proclaims the phrase \"KONNIE\" in stark white letters."

    "She squints.
    {w} Somewhere in the back of her mind a faceless optometrist chides her for not taking care of her eyes."

    "Jo shrugs it off.
    {w} If real people couldn't fix her poor habits a figment of her imagination wasn't about to change that."

    "Removing one of her earbuds, she answers the call."

    j "What's up."

    "It's more a statement than a question.
    {w} She knows what's up.
    {w} Some bullshit task filed by some bullshit techie whose bullshit she's got to un-bullshit."

    "A gravelly voice responds from the other end of the line, reeking of Mediterranean gruffness.
    {w} It confirms her suspicions of bullshittery in short barks."

    j "Gotcha. I'll head over now."

    "Jo lets out a deep sigh and puts her earbud back in its rightful place."

    "Her bodyweight shifts carefully to the right, switching tracks."

    "There aren't many trains heading out to Salellah Heights at this time of the night, so she can afford to be lazily reckless."

    "Jo slows her railboard down to a gentle cruise.
    {w} Limbs and muscles groan in tired satisfaction as she twists and stretches, the misty ocean air breezing around her."

    "Kingo's crooning fades back into the ethereal static.
    {w}She knows the next song before it starts and keeps her hand away from the fast-forward button."

    "She's content to let Yumi Matsutoya's punchy pop ballad serenade her the rest of the way
    {w}(\"Downtown Boy\",
    {w}{i}NO SIDE{/i},
    {w}(1984))."

    "Her board and mind go on autopilot.
    {w}Jo has already done her work for the day.
    {w}She doesn't need to try and keep her brain busy with delusions that she's being mentally productive."

    "Dub City's luminescent skyline quickly fades as she glides further away from the shore, rays of light disappearing into the ocean black."

    "Moments later, Jo's railboard gives off a cheery chime and snaps her out of her hypnotic reverie.
    {w} Her destination has snuck up on her, and she suddenly finds herself bathed in artificial warmth."

    "With a yawn, Jo hops onto the station platform and shoulders her railboard."

    "She has no idea why she bothered installing two shoulder straps.
    {w} The worn fabric of the right strap looks ready to give out at any moment."

    "Jo dismissively files that away as something to check on later,
    {w}along with a few dozen other tasks."

    "As she descends the concrete steps from the station onto the leaf-covered pathway, a gust of autumn wind runs a chill across her skin."

    "The sudden shift from technology to nature was amazing when she first came to Salellah Heights, years ago."

    "Not that Jo doesn't still think it's any less amazing.
    {w} It's just part of the routine nowadays."

    "She's suddenly cognizant of the fact that her tape has reached its end.
    {w}A quick flip of a switch and it's rolling in reverse."

    "A flutter of trumpets herald singer-songwriter Anri's 1983 classic, \"Shyness Boy\"
    {w}({i}Timely!!{/i})."

    "Jo takes a moment to fish out a cigarette from her jacket, cursing the breeze that will inevitably give her shit for trying to address her tobacco fix."

    "After a flick of her lighter and a puff of tobacco, Jo continues her meandering pace down to the stage."

    "The trees soon give way to a massive clearing, at the center of which stands an impressive setup of bleachers, platforms, and countless technological marvels courtesy of MGI."

    "Jo takes out her phone once more, waiting for the piece of shit to catch up with her impatience."

    "The work order Konnie sent her describes a malfunctioning loader that's \"Performance Critical\"."

    "Jo scoffs."

    "The pulsing portal center stage illuminates a massive structure behind it.
    {w}A towering animatronic dragon stands vigil, its cutesy features giving off an air of melancholy in the midnight gloom."

    j "{i}\"Performance Critical\" my ass.
    {w}There's enough firepower on this thing to level a small village.
    {w}MGI is taking anybody these days.{/i}"

    "As Jo draws closer to the animatronic, her attention shifts towards the portal at its feet.
    {w}She stops for a moment, letting the swirling mass of energy take her back to a different place and time."

    "She shrugs it off with a grin and brings herself back to the present."

    j "{i}Alright, what fresh hell awaits me here.{/i}"

    "There are a number of possibilities for what could be wrong with the loader.
    {w}Jo starts with the most obvious."

    "A quick diagnostic reveals a problem so dumb that it makes her laugh from the sheer incompetence."

    j "{i}Some idiot messed around with the hydalulic settings and overloaded the pressure.{/i}"

    "A quick thwap of her multitool's hammer on a few knobs and the loader hisses back to normal."

    j "{i}Might as well change my title from \"Lead Assistant Technician\" to \"Glorified Tech-Support\".{/i}"

    "Not that she minds her job all that much.
    {w}It's good enough.
    {w}She likes Konnie, gets decent pay, and she pretty much does her own thing."

    "Still, at times like this, when the world slows down to meet her pace, she gets an itch."

    "With her job done she can finally go back home."

    "Jo takes a quick look at her phone:
    {w}{i}12:23{/i}.
    {w}Not too late (by her standards anyways)."

    "She does a token scan of her surroundings, confident that no one is around to see her scratch the itch that grows with each passing second."

    "From one of her railboard's compartments, Jo pulls out a worn cassette tape titled \"PERFORMANCE MIX\".
    {w}Her old friend Mariya is poised and ready to go with her hit 2008 single, \"Shiawase no Monosashi\"."

    "It's been several years since she's held a wand but her multitool has served in its place with distinction.
    {w}After switching out tapes, she hits play and assumes her position center-stage."

    "Words from a person infinitely wiser than her flood her memories:
    {w}{i}\"Stance wide.
    {w}Breathe in.
    {w}Shoulders squared.
    {w}Breathe out.{/i}\""

    "Old instincts flare up and carry her through each beat, each punch of the track."

    "Jo smiles brilliantly for her invisible audience, giving off a magnificent flourish as she encourages them to follow along with her."

    "An accusatory hand points defiantly towards the portal.
    {w}She won't give an inch to these invaders from another world!"

    "Thunderous applaud roars within her head.
    {w}A decades-old drumbeat pulses to an electrifying melody.
    {w}With each imaginary foe that falls, she strikes a pose towards her adoring fans."

    "The multitool in her hands has transformed before her eyes."

    "She recalls a hefty warhammer with each swing, feeling the memory of a satisfying thwack as she pummels another enemy."

    "A different place,
    {w}a different time."

    "But for the briefest of moments, it feels like here and now."

    #jump scene2

#label scene2:

    show display test with wipedown:
        xpos 0
        ypos 0
    show jo gay:
        xpos 854
        ypos 0

    j "... and like, it was just overpressurized!
    {w}Who the fuck-"

    kv "Language."

    j "Oh, yeah, my b.
    {w}{i}*cough*{/i}
    {w}Anyways, who the heck decides to mess around with machinery they're {i}clearly{/i} unqualified to operate?!"

    j "I mean, we set it all up for them, make sure everything is properly calibrated and shit-"

    kv "{i}Language.{/i}"

    j "...
    {w}properly calibrated and...
    {w}stuff.
    {w}All they have to do is press a few buttons and make sure nothing blows up."

    vv "So you just... whapped it?"

    j "I prefer the term \"Aggressive Readjustment\"."

    kv "I will \"aggressively readjust\" your hours if you do not get back to work, Joanna."

    j "I'm working, Konnie.
    {w}What, does it look like I'm not working?"

    vv "It looks like you're sitting around complaining."

    j "Hey Squirt, you can't talk to your supervisor like that."

    vv "Konnie, can I talk to Jo like that?"

    k "Yes."

    j "I resent the implication."

    vv "What implication?"

    j "That I have no authority."

    vv "But nobody-"

    j "I feel personally attacked."

    k "Good.
    {w}Now get back to work.
    {w}You too, Vera."

    v "But I'm not even on the clock today.
    {w}I'm just here to tweak Jo's board."

    k "Then what is your excuse."

    j "Excuse me Mr. Kefalas, I was giving insightful commentary on the poor state of affairs with our on-site technicians."

    k "Bad excuse.
    {w}Back to work."

    j "Yeah, yeah."

    "Jo has worked long enough with Konnie to know when he's reached the limit of his tolerance.
    {w}Judging from his creased forehead and the stinkeye he keeps throwing her way, she's just about reached it."

    "With a shrug, Jo goes back to her work."

    "Her latest project is rigging animatronics."

    "It's nothing like the massive dragon she encountered last night.
    {w}No, this animatronic is a bit more lowkey.
    {w}More window dressing than anything."

    "The theme for this performance is supposed to be \"Around the World\".
    {w}As such, MGI requested \"fanciful regional icons from an approved list of nations.\""

    "Rigging the machines is the easy part.
    {w}Figuring out how to not offend anyone is the real challenge."

    j "Y'know, I'm still not entirely sold on the flying carpet."

    k "What, it should be a rug instead?"

    v "Why would somebody fly a rug?"

    k "Why would somebody fly a carpet?"

    j "That's not the point-"

    v "Aren't they the same thing?"

    j "Well, no, but-"

    k "A rug I can see on the floor of a very rich man."

    v "Oh, I see. That makes sense then.
    {w}Aladdin was a peasant, right?"

    k "Yes."

    v "But he became a prince, didn't he?
    {w}So does that mean the carpet became a rug?"

    k "It would make sense."

    "Before Jo can butt in to say precisely how that doesn't make sense, her phone begins to vibrate."

    "A quick glance at the screen brings a smile to her face."

    j "Yo, how's it going?"

    hv "Well, there's nobody here to greet me so..."

    j "Oh fuck-"

    k "Language."

    j "-that was today?"

    "The voice on the line giggles and sighs in a way that is comfortably shaming."

    hv "Yes, Joanna, it was today~"

    j "Okay, uh, I'll-"

    "Jo looks over to Konnie with pleading eyes.
    {w}He wordlessly nods, completely unsurprised."

    j "I'll be there as soon as possible!"

    "In a flurry of motion, Jo puts aside her work forlater."

    "Really, what it amounts to is her throwing a bundle of wires and tools into a pile on a nearby bench."

    j "Vera, how's my board?"

    v "Well, the hoverpads aren't completely ready..."

    v "You can hop between rails now, but if you try to give yourself an upward boost, the limiters are kinda wonky so it might over-"

    j "Good enough, thanks Squirt!"

    "With a ruffle of Vera's head and a wave to Konnie, Jo quickly sets out to give her best friend a warm welcome home."

    #jump scene3a

#label scene3a:

    #scene bg room


    "It's a short ride to the hyperloop station made even shorter by Jo's board."

    "Vera's addition of hoverpads has given Jo even more ways to recklessly endanger her life and everyone around her.
    {w}But damn if it doesn't feel sick as shit."

    "The slab of metal beneath her feet chugs along."

    "Her new hoverpads, albeit somewhat shaky, let her quickly jump between rail lines."

    "In a matter of minutes Jo has pulled up to the station stop.
    {w}Her appearance between the trains raises more than a few eyebrows."

    "Ignoring all of them, Jo hops off onto the station platform and shoulders her railboard."

    "Her frantically measured power-walking takes her by joyous reunions, kitschy Dub City trinkets, and colorful railway advertisements trying to reaffirm your allegiance to them."

    j "{i}Okay, NationLoop, NationLoop, where are you.{/i}"

    "After a moment of considering asking for help then deciding \"Screw that I'm an adult\", Jo stumbles into NationLoop's \"Arrivals\" area."

    "It doesn't take long to find her friend.
    {w}All she has to do is follow the rambunctious clumps of people swarming around a single person."

    "Through the bustling crowd, Jo can make out a bright blonde ponytail swaying back and forth."

    f1 "Hannah! Oh my god, it's Hannah Blum!"

    f2 "Mama, I can't see her!"

    f3 "Hannah-tan marry me please!!!"

    h "Thank you all so much!
    {w}I'm so sorry, but I really have to go~"

    "With a grunt, Jo assumes her best authoritative voice."

    j "Alright folks, move it!
    {w}Ms. Blum isn't taking any autographs and if she says otherwise she's just being nice.
    {w}I, however, don't care."

    "Putting an arm around Hannah's shoulder, Jo pushes forward through the crowd.
    {w}Soon enough the two have beaten back the rabid fans and find themselves alone in an empty hallway."

    j "You really gotta get a bodyguard or something."

    h "Some of us were just born with this natural charm, Jo."

    "A beat.
    {w}A breath.
    {w}Laughter.
    {w}The two women hug with an indescribable force nearly two-decades old."

    j "Yeah, this beats video chat by several miles."

    h "It's so good to see youuuuu~!"

    "Breaking away from her friend, Jo gives off a mischievous grin."

    j "So Hannah, how do you want to celebrate your magnificent return to Dub City?"

    h "Grease Bucket."

    "Jo barks out a laugh, warranting a pout from her friend."

    h "What?!
    {w}I'm serious!
    {w}Do you know how hard it was to find a proper fish and chips place in Japan?"

    j "Clearly more difficult than I gave it credit for."

    "A raised eyebrow challenges Hannah one more time."

    j "Aren't you on some sorta diet or health plan?"

    "With a hand on each of Jo's shoulders, Hannah looks at her square in the face."

    h "Jo, I've been living off of protein shakes and fruit for the past two years.
    {w}I know more ways to prepare kale than I ever thought possible.
    {w}Sometimes I dream of cheese."

    h "We.
    {w}Are.
    {w}Going.
    {w}To the Grease Bucket."

    "Hannah grins."

    h "Think of it as my cheat day~"

    j "Well, when you put it like that."

    #jump scene3b

#label scene3b:

    #scene bg room

    j "... to calibrate before performance, especially when you're onloading new hardware into the venue."

    h "That's what I was saying!"

    "Hannah frowns into her bite of battered fish, frustrated at some past offense.
    {w}The strip of fried cod must pay for this transgression."

    h "But no, they had to call in the lead technician who just repeated {i}everything that I said!{/i}"

    h "And get this-"

    "Another irritated bite."

    h "When he fixes it, everyone onstage applauds him and says what a genius he is!"

    j "Psh, of course."

    h "That's not the worst of it though!"

    h "My producer takes me aside and says I should {i}thank{/i} him!"

    "Hannah grumbles into a mouthful of fish, her annoyed grunts mixed with delighted mumbles over the tasty food."

    j "No justice in the world these days."

    h "None
    {w}- at
    {w}- all~!"

    "A wave of her french fry accentuates each of Hannah's words."

    "She emphatically indulges in a bite of the crispy golden snack, satisfied that her case has been heard."

    "On a dime, Hannah's expression turns from one of petulance to curiosity."

    h "But that's ancient history now!"

    h "Enough about me, what about you?
    {w}How's work been?"

    "Jo silently cringes.
    {w}She knew the conversation would get here eventually."

    j "S'good.
    {w}Konnie's good,
    {w}work is work,
    {w}y'know,
    {w}but it's good."

    h "Mmm, is it good Joanna?"

    j "Yeah, no, it is.
    {w}I mean, it's work.
    {w}Same old same old, I mean-"

    f4 "Omigosh omigosh, Hannah Blum!"

    "A squeaky voice pops up from behind the pair, saving Jo from her self-imposed embarrassment."

    "As Hannah turns around at the call of her name, Jo leans over the damp wooden railing.
    {w}Her gaze shifts towards the seagulls below, mostly grateful for the distraction."

    h "Hey there~!"

    f4 "Um, h-hi, hello Hannah! Ms. Blum, I-"

    h "Hehe, just \"Hannah\" will do."

    f4 "Yeah, Hannah, I love your work, your tour and live albums and everything I mean I've got them all and..."

    "The conversation carries on but Jo quickly tunes it out.
    {w}She's gotten quite good at developing her selective hearing."

    "With her appetite gone, Jo figures that the seagulls would enjoy her fries far more than she would."

    "Despite the warning signs (or perhaps because of them), she flicks fry after fry down below."

    "The squawking beach birds assemble beneath the dock, eager for their latest illegal offering."

    "Jo puts on a practiced air of nonchalance.
    {w}Let Hannah have her conversation.
    {w}{i}She's{/i} the magical girl, right?
    {w}It comes with the territory."

    "It was her decision after all."

    "A light tap on her shoulder brings Jo back from the edge of her memories."

    h "You know that's unhealthy for them, right?"

    j "Huh?"

    h "The seagulls, you ditz."

    j "Oh, well, this is their cheat day, right?"

    "Just like that, Jo sports a shit-eating smirk and wipes away any trace of unease she might have had."

    "A sensible chuckle escapes Hannah's mouth as she caps off the pen she's holding and waves goodbye to her fan."

    j "So how much will an authentic Hannah Blum signature get me on the internet, huh?"

    h "Enough, hehe."

    j "I wonder if bars will accept it as legal tender."

    h "Something tells me they won't~"

    "Hannah leans into the railing, matching Jo's posture.
    {w}Her eyes sparkle with an uncomfortable curiosity."

    h "Anyways, you never finished telling me about your work!
    {w}What exactly have you been doing?"

    j "I mean, it's just-"

    "Before Jo has a chance to fully choke up, a summery pixel melody chirps from inside one of Hannah's pockets."

    h "Shoot, hold that thought."

    h "Hello?"

    h "What!
    {w}But I just got back home!
    {w}C'mon Melll~"

    "With a dejected huff, Hannah relents to whatever request was just made of her."

    h "Alright, alright.
    {w}I'll be there in a bit, I'm over in the Old District.
    {w}See you soon."

    h "That was my assistant.
    {w}She says I've got an S-Level performance over in Japantown as a \"Welcome Home Celebration\"."

    h "Yayyy meee~..."

    j "The dream doesn't ever stop, huh?"

    h "Always a busy day in the life of The #1 Magical Girl~"

    h "Hey, you should come by!
    {w}We can hang out backstage before the show like we used to!"

    j "Oh, that's, I mean-"

    h "Pleeeeease~"

    "Despite knowing that this is a fight she could win, Jo relents."

    j "... Alright, alright, I'll go."

    h "Perfect~!"

    "Finishing off the last few scraps of her food, Hannah wipes her hands clean and smiles."

    h "Show starts at 6!
    {w}Don't be late to being early~!"

    j "Yeah yeah, I'll see you then."

    "Jo throws her friend a half-hearted wave goodbye as she skips away."

    "Somewhere in the back of her mind, she's convinced herself she'll regret this."

    jump scene4a

label scene4a:

    scene bg room

    "With a few hours to kill until Hannah's performance, Jo finds herself wandering around the boardwalk."

    "She can't recall the last time she was here in the daylight."

    "It's a bit strange seeing it filled with so many people."

    j "{i}Wonder if the Blue Light's open.{/i}"

    "Thoughts of her midnight haunt draw her pacing towards a familiar set of alleyways, past candy stores and souvenir shops
    that sell different combinations of the same merchanidse."

    "She's fairly certain that some of this Dub City memorabilia has been here since she was little."

    j "Old-ass tourist traps hawking their kitschy garbage onto equally kitschy people."

    "Soon enough, Jo's walk brings her to a cobblestone entryway."

    "It's even grimier in the daylight but that only adds to the rustic charm."

    "A freshly painted wooden sign swings above the door, proudly proclaiming: \"THE BLUE LIGHT TAVERN - EST. 1992\""

    "The Blue Light lost its original sign years ago, the unfortunate victim of the Yamashita High Class of 2015."

    "In spite of the school's efforts (and thanks to the Blue Light's), stealing the bar's sign has been an officialy unofficial tradition for the graduating class."

    "But something else catch's Jo's attention:
    {w}a standup display with glittering pastel text."

    "\"{i}FCR MONTHLY MEETUP
    {w}- EVERYONE IS WELCOME{/i}\""

    j "{i}FCR, are you freaking kidding me.{/i}"

    "The organization's name is nearly enough to drive Jo away, but another line scrolls up that catches her attention:
    {w}{i}ALL DRINKS HALF-PRICE{/i}"

    jump scene4b

label scene4b:

    scene bg room

    "The first thing that's different is the noise."

    "There are... people.
    {w}Lots of them."

    "The second thing is the smell."

    "{i}People.
    {w}Lots of them.{/i}"

    "Not even discount booze is enough to keep Jo here. Just as she turns around to walk back out the door, somebody from behind calls her name."

    rv "Jo?"

    rv "It is you!"

    j "Ah... Hey, Robert."

    "The one thing that could've made her stay does just that."

    r "You're about... ten hours early, aren't you?"

    j "Yeah, hehe..."

    j "Well, I was just in the neighborhood, so I thought I'd uh, y'know, stop by."

    j "I didn't expect this crowd though."

    j "I'm probably gonna peace out..."

    r "What?!
    {w}After coming all the way out here?"

    r "Nonsense, you've gotta stay!"

    "Jo raises her hand to protest but is stopped in her tracks by Robert's stunning smile."

    "Somewhere off in the distance, she's fairly certain she hears trumpets climbing into a brilliant fanfare."

    r "Oh looks like they're about to start.
    {w}C'mon, first drink is on me!"

    "Wading through a sizably small crowd, Robert leads them behind the bar and quickly produces a hefty glass of DCB for Jo."

    "Before she can give her thanks, the show has begun in earnest."

    "Hoots and hollers from the crowd encourage whoever is on.
    {w}A regular, maybe."

    "Her outfit isn't even close to MGI standard:
    {w}soiled cargo pants, a loose tank-top, and a messy mop of curly hair held precariously in place by an orange band."

    "But that's not the worst of it."

    "A small strip of LED lights hangs above the performer, sweeping in blue and white tones."

    "In the middle of the stage, a scuffed metal pillar has been erected.
    {w}Standing a little taller than Jo herself, it whirs and sputters to life."

    j "{i}Is that a homemade portal?
    {w}The hell kind of show is this?{/i}"

    "Jo is quick to dismiss all of it.
    {w}The people,
    {w}the performance,
    {w}everything that's happening right now."

    "From the centerstage pillar, a hologram emerges in a quick flash of light.
    {w}Its appearance is that of an A-Level monster, a HopperHead if she remembers correctly."

    "Named for its prominent, angular head and powerful leg, it's easy enough to deal with on its own.
    {w}However, if left unchecked it quickly self-replicates."

    "Best strategy:
    {w}Hit fast.
    {w}Hit hard."

    "The woman onstage strikes a proudly angular pose, eliciting a cheer from the audience."

    "Something is off."

    j "Is she...?"

    "Jo's suspicions are correct.
    {w}The woman doesn't pay the HeadHopper any mind.
    {w}She hasn't even transformed."

    "She playfully nods in time with the music, hips moving in syncopation, feet tapping back and forth."

    "A warily energetic dance, as if courting her enemy.
    {w}Eyes closed, feeling the pulse of the music."

    "The HeadHopper has begun to multiply.
    {w}Its monolithic head hinges back.
    {w}A smaller doppelganger begins to emerge from within."

    "The woman circles behind it, letting it do so freely.
    {w}Her dancing is graceful, yet measured, the effortless movement of a seasoned magical girl."

    j "Who is she?"

    "Jo wants nothing more than to find out who she is but she can't stop watching."

    "She stares, transfixed, waiting to see what happens."

    "The woman has reached the lip of the stage.
    {w}The HeadHoppers, now numbering three, begin to approach in slow, booming leaps."

    "With a twirl and flourish, the woman surrounds herself in a shower of holographic bubbles."

    "Suddenly, a flash of silver cuts low through the cloud.
    {w}The trio of HeadHoppers make for another leap, only to stumble clumsily to the ground."

    "A figure dashes from the bubble cloud, kicking one of the HeadHoppers into the air.
    {w}A beat,
    {w}a note,
    {w}the woman has leapt up to the apex of her kick."

    "While she's dealt with the one HeadHopper, the others have continued to replicate."

    "The woman smirks.
    {w}She motions out to the audience, thrusting her weapon, a hacksaw, out towards them."

    "A chorus of cheers roars back in response."

    "Tossing her hacksaw up behind her, the woman twirls around, catching it out of the air and slicing through the mob of HeadHoppers around her."

    "The song reaches its climax and so does she.
    {w}The woman wastes no time in darting back and forth, hitting each and every HeadHopper with lightning precision."

    "On the very last chord the final HeadHopper falls."

    "The woman strikes a classic magical girl pose: knee up, a peace sign pressed against a beaming eye."

    "Hollering applause booms throughout the room."

    "Jo simply stands, staring at the figure onstage."

    r "Pretty great, huh?"

    j "...Hm?"

    r "Miri, she's great!"

    j "Oh, yeah... She's good."

    "That's putting it lightly-
    {w}and Jo knows that."

    r "Hey, Jo?"

    j "Yeah?"

    r "You haven't drunk any of your beer."

    jump scene4c

label scene4c:

    scene bg room

    "The rest of the performances that afternoon are varying degrees of decent."

    "Nothing quite matches Miri, the first performer, but Jo finds herself interested enough to stay."

    "All the fights afterwards are either D or C-Level.
    {w}Nothing remotely difficult to handle, Jo thinks to herself."

    "Despite the balatantly amateur nature of the show, there's no denying the audience's enthusiasm."

    "Supportive calls cheer on the girls, several of whom are clearly embarrassed to be standing up in the limelight."

    "Before Jo fully realizes it, three hours have gone by."

    fcr "Wow, what a turnout huh?
    {w}Thank you to everyone who came today!"

    fcr "Let's give our girls up here a round of applause for another fantastic FCR Monthly Meetup."

    fcr "Now, as we do every time, we're going to end on a group number!"

    fcr "Anybody who's interested is encouraged to join, even if you've never been onstage before!"

    fcr "And if it's been a while, don't worry, you're in good company here~"

    r "Well, what do you think Jo?"

    j "Huh?"

    r "Gonna give it a go?"

    j "I think I'm good, thanks though."

    r "Oh, okay."

    j "What I mean is, I told my friend that I'd meet up with her and it's already..."

    j "Shit, it's already 4:30?!"

    j "Yeah, I've really gotta go.
    {w}Thanks for the drink, Robert!"

    jump scene5a

label scene5a:

    scene bg room

    "Dipping and diving through the after-work rush is a challenge on the best of days."

    "Getting to Japantown from the Old District in under twenty minutes requires a careful balance of dexterity and precision.
    {w}Jo focuses on the former."

    "A few close calls and angry shouts are the worst she has to endure."

    "The streets and railways have become notably congested as she approaches the Japantown waterfront."

    "No surprise, really."

    "Hannah's popularity has only continued to rise over the past couple years."

    "And now the prodigal daughter has returned home."

    j "{i}4:57
    {w}Okay, not too bad.
    {w}I''ll still get there on time.{/i}"

    "A voice in her head scolds her:"

    "{i}If you're early, you're on time.
    {w}If you're on time, you're late.
    {w}If you're late, you're dead.{/i}"

    "Jo smiles at some unseen memory."

    j "{i}Guess I've gotta hustle if I wanna be on time then.{i}"

    "Gauging the criss-crossing network of rails around her, she leans forward and presses into her board."

    "Something whirrs to life beneath her.
    {w}In the next moment, Jo has been thrust into the air."

    "Her board shakes and sputters but manages to hold."

    j "{i}Not bad, Vera.{/i}"

    "The hoverpads have given Jo barely enough lift to reach the rail above her."

    "A few twists and turns (some purely for show), and she's managed to latch safely onto the maglev track."

    "This new track she's on is meant only for shipping and maintenance and leads directly into the venue's railyard."

    "From here she can see the waterfront.
    {w}At its edge stands a masssive dome, its gleaming metal shell reflecting the horizon's orange glow."

    "A sizable crowd has already formed in and around the stadium."

    "One more glance at her phone leaves a smirk on Jo's face."

    "She'll definitely get there on time."

    jump scene5b

label scene5b:

    scene bg room

    "The same sense of unease at the bar also hits Jo backstage."

    "It's busy here.
    {w}Too busy."

    "She'd forgotten just how frantically organized it gets before a show."

    "Lighting assistants hauling cables and units, stage managers barking orders, backup dancers getting ready for their cues."

    "It's all so uncomfortably familiar."

    "Brushing aside the unwanted nostalgia, Jo snakes her way through the pre-show chaos towards the back of the lot."

    "It doesn't take long before she finds Hannah's trailer."

    "The double decker house-on-jets makes for an imposing sight."

    "Plastered against the side is a massive mural of Hannah, dressed in her full magical girl outfit.
    {w}Stars and sparkles explode around her in an impressive display."

    "A speech bubble has Hannah exclaiming something in Japanese.
    {w}It's been a while since Jo has practiced the language, but she doesn't doubt it's appropriately adorable."

    j "{i}I'm pretty sure this is bigger than my apartment building.{/i}"

    "Jo makes her way up to the trailer's door and knocks."

    "Moments later, the door opens and out pops a prim looking woman dressed in stage blacks."

    ha "Yes?"

    j "Hi, uh, is Hannah..."

    h "It's okay Mel. C'mon in Jo~!"

    "Having been granted divine permission to enter, Jo steps inside the cavernous interior of the trailer."

    "Not only is it bigger than her apartment, it's infinitely nicer."

    j "{i}Is that a marble kitchen counter?!{/i}"

    "It's indeed a marble kitchen counter."

    "The couches, electronics, and various sundries show just how much money
    MGI has been dumped into giving their magical girls all the comforts of home."

    "Hannah is sitting in front of a brightly-lit mirror, a stern-faced woman primping and teasing her flowing golden locks."

    h "Right on time! I was just finishing my makeup.
    {w}Girls, Jo.
    {w}Jo, the girls~"

    "The young woman that opened the door smiles and lightly bows, while the older woman working on Hannah's hair simply grunts."

    me "Pleasure to finally meet you, Ms. Jourdaine.
    {w}Ms. Blum has told us so much about you."

    h "Mel, could you be a dear and get Jo something to drink?"

    me "Of course. What would you like ma'am?"

    j "Oh, uh... Beer?"

    me "Certainly. Preference?"

    j "...Cold?"

    me "Right away ma'am."

    "Hannah's assistant promptly scurries off to another room to fetch the drink."

    j "...Ma'am."

    "Hannah scoffs pleasantly."

    h "That's Mel for you.
    {w}I've given up on telling her to just call me Hannah."

    h "Well don't just stand there, take a seat wherever!"

    "Jo accepts the invitation and plops on a sprawling leather couch directly behind Hannah."

    "It nearly swallows Jo whole, the plush monster threatening to completely envelop her."

    "After a moment of surprise, Jo relents and sinks further in."

    ha "Your drink, Ms. Jourdaine."

    "Mel has come back with a clear bubbling glass of what Jo assumes to be expensive beer."

    "After a bit of fighting to get herself upright, Jo takes the glass and tentatively sips."

    j "Shit, that's good."

    j "Thanks Mel."

    "Hannah's assistant gives Jo a light smile and bows."

    me "My pleasure. Please don't hesitate to ask me for anything else."

    "With that, Mel pulls out a small tablet from her back pocket and walks over to Hannah."

    me "Ms. Blum, call is in half an hour."

    h "Thanks Mel!"

    j "Just as excessive as I remember it."

    h "It's nice, but it definitely doesn't beat being home."

    j "I can imagine."

    j "Speaking of, how's Nance?"

    h "She's good!"

    h "The treatments have really been helping."

    h "You know, she asks about you all the time."

    j "Yeah?"

    j "I've been meaning to stop by, really.
    {w}It just feels kinda...
    {w}awkward without you there."

    h "Don't be silly, as far as we're concerned you're family."

    j "Yeah I know it's just..."

    "Jo struggles to come up with an excuse."

    "\"Sorry I haven't said hi to your cancer-ridden mom.\"
    {w}\"Hospitals still freak me out.\"
    {w}\"I've been too busy being depressed.\""

    "None of them seem particularly good."

    j "Anyways, S-Level huh?
    {w}Got your setlist prepped?"

    h "Yep!
    {w}I'm excited.
    {w}It's been so long since I've worked a Western portal."

    h "But I'm not too frazzled.
    {w}People say that Japanese portals are harder anyways, so I should be fine~"

    j "I mean, they're what we trained with, right?"

    h "Thanks, Maria."

    "The two women laugh at the mention of their old instructor."

    "Jo thinks back on those days fairly often, but it's different to openly talk about them."

    j "Do you remember our first runthrough of \"Flight of the Flamingos\"?"

    h "Omigosh, I totally forgot she named it that."

    j "It's still stupid, right?
    {w}I'm not crazy?"

    h "Hehe, no, you're not~"

    j "Well good because I still hate it."

    j "\"Don't worry girls, it's going to be the same enemy-type for each level.\""

    j "Fails to mention how each tier has some different bullshit augmentation that we {i}absolutely didn't train for{/i}."

    h "To be fair, it {i}was{/i} in the textbook."

    j "Oh whatever.
    {w}\"Magical girl theory\" is just a load of pretentious bullshit."

    sv "People that takes this line of work seriously think otherwise."

    "From the doorway comes a voice that cuts through the conversation with a casual smugness."

    sv "I thought you would've remembered that much from Maria."

    "Jo grimaces.
    {w}She should've expected to see her."

    j "Sie."

    s "Joanna.
    {w}Glad to see you still remember the peasants."

    "Content to leave the conversation with Jo at that, Sie turns brusquely towards Hannah and puts on a fantastic smile."

    "With a small hop she takes a seat on the makeup counter, swinging her legs playfully."

    s "Big crowd.
    {w}You ready?"

    h "I think the better question is {i}are you{/i}?"

    h "Aren't you supposed to already be in place?"

    s "They'll be fine.
    {w}There's two minutes of backup dancers anyways."

    s "It's part of my \"tsundere\" charm, after all."

    h "Sie, I swear."

    s "You always do."

    "A small giggle pops up between the two."

    h "Me and Jo were just talking about when we were trainees."

    s "Is that right?"

    "Despite feeling pleasantly nostalgic a moment ago, Jo now feels rather awkward."

    s "I'm sure Jo here misses being the center of attention."

    h "Oh Sie, be nice."

    s "Alright, alright."

    s "So Jo, how is it being a stagehand?"

    j "I'm a technician.
    {w}Assistant Lead Technician."

    s "Congratulations on the promotion."

    j "Work is work."

    s "I'm sure."

    s "Well, I suppose it's nice to keep busy."

    h "Jo, didn't you tell me about all of the cool backstage stuff you do?"

    j "Yyyyes... Sure."

    j "Yeah, like, I help rig animatronics and stuff.
    {w}Fix last minute tech snags."

    j "Keep the gears greased and running and everything."

    s "Putting all that training to good use, huh?"

    j "I mean, it's not what I expected I'd be doing but it works for me."

    h "You should look into performing again, Jo!"

    h "I'm sure you'd have some kind of seniority preference."

    j "Maybe, I haven't really thought about it..."

    h "You should!!!"

    s "I hear FCR is always looking for \"talent\".
    {w}Maybe they're more your speed."

    j "They're alright."

    j "At least what they're doing is genuine."

    s "Ha, okayyy."

    j "What?"

    s "Nothing."

    s "I mean, it's cool, some people like going for that whole hipster angle."

    h "I think what FCR does is neat!"

    h "Still need to go check out one of their shows though."

    s "Psh, don't bother."

    j "What, have you gone?"

    s "I don't need to.
    {w}I already know what I'd be getting into."

    j "They're not that bad."

    s "What's the point of them anyways?
    {w}They don't even use portals."

    s "At least real magical girls provide a service to the city."

    j "Whether a monster's real or not shouldn't matter."

    j "\"Real\" magical girls think about the artistry of their performance."

    s "So you're saying it's wrong to have fun?"

    j "No, I'm not.
    {w}Don't put words in my mouth."

    h "Hey, end of the day, that's what being a magical girl is, right?"

    h "If we can protect the city and entertain it at the same time, that's all that matters."

    "Before either Jo or Sie can offer their opinioated rebuttals, Mel interrupts them with a call for places."

    "Jo manages to hide her frown behind an empty glass and traces of foam."

    h "Well, let's give our adoring fans an unforgettable show~"

    h "I've let people in the skybox know you're coming, Jo.
    {w}Feel free to head up whenever you're ready.
    {w}You better cheer us on with all you've got~!"

    s "Peace."

    "Jo throws the people leaving the trailer a small wave as they file out."


    "And just like that she's left with the quiet of her thoughts"

    jump scene6

label scene6:

    scene bg room

    "The sound of the shifting waves carries with it the promise of a judgement-free pitydrink session."

    "One beer, while refreshing, did little to suppress Jo's train of thought."

    "Thankfully, craft services in their infinite wisdom, left six-packs unattended for someone with questionable scruples to plunder."

    j "{i}Finders keepers.{/i}"

    j "{i}No skin off of anybody's nose, really.{/i}"

    j "{i}Not like MGI is short on cash.{/i}"

    "The far-off murmur of an energetic show easily proves that."

    "Jo did the nice thing, anyways.
    {w}She could have stolen something more expensive, but she went with the cheaper option."

    "Well, \"nice\" is a relative term anyways."

    "After a bit of walking and rushing her way through one can, Jo runs into an obstacle blocking her path to the water."

    "In front of her, standing several feet tall is a security fence, crackling with low voltage plasma."

    j "No, of course, it would be too easy for me to just walk down to the ocean and get drunk.
    {w}Of course that's too much to ask for."

    j "Well fuck you too."

    "Defying the inanimate obstacle blocking her path, Jo pulls off another can from the six-pack and cracks it open."

    "But she isn't quite done taunting the fence."

    j "Betcha didn't think about this, huh?"

    j "I don't need ambience to get wasted."

    j "That's right bitch who's laughing now?"

    "As she takes a sip, however, hushed voices off to her right catch her attention."

    "Further down the dock she can see three teenagers, equally as frustrated with the fence."

    "Jo manages to approach without rousing their attention, wanting to get a closer look at what they're doing."

    "They each take turns holding up a metal rod to the fence and attempting to walk through it, only to have the plasma arc off the rod and shock them."

    t1 "I told you guys we should have brought the rubber mat!"

    t2 "Can somebody else please do this?
    {w}My mom said I need to limit my exposure to live currents."

    t3 "C'mon, hurry up!
    {w}The performance is probably starting!!!"

    j "The hell are you kids up to?"

    t2 "Security!"

    t1 "Crap, we gotta go!"

    j "Whoa, hey, I'm not security."

    "The air of defeat, depression, and alcoholism that surrounds Jo suggests otherwise."

    t3 "That's exactly what security would say."

    t1 "No they wouldn't, you idiot.
    {w}That's against the law.
    {w}If you ask a cop if they're a cop they're legally required to tell the truth."

    t3 "Are you security?"

    j "No, I just said-"

    t2 "But what if she's undercover?"

    t1 "That's different."

    j "Look I'm not security or an undercover cop.
    {w}I'm just trying to get drunk."

    j "...What are you guys up to?"

    t3 "We're here to see Hannah!"

    t2 "If we can get in..."

    t2 "We thought this lightning rod would help, but..."

    t1 "God, I freaking told you guys, {i}the rubber mat!{/i}"

    "As the kids argue amongst themselves, Jo takes a moment to look closer at the fence."

    "Upon closer inspection, she can see that it's a standard MGI plasma partition."

    "Mostly meant to keep riffraff out with a light shock."

    "Scanning along the fencepost, she spies a panel at its base."

    j "Hang on, gimmie a sec."

    "Putting down her beer and board, Jo fishes out her multitool."

    j "All you need is a little patience and finesse."

    "Setting it to \"MALLET\", Jo proceeds to bash open the panel."

    "With a spark and a stutter, the section of the fence in front of her dies out."

    j "Oh, uh...
    {w}That works too."

    t3 "Yes!!!"

    t1 "Thanks, lady!"

    t2 "Yeah, thank you!"

    j "Heh, don't sweat it."

    "Before Jo can revel in the praise, she feels a chill run down her spine."

    "Her skin is crawling, hair standing on end."

    "The world slows to a crawl as her brain goes into overdrive, trying to pinpoint the source of her terror."

    "Jo can feel an unnerving presence looming over her."

    "As she turns to face whatever it is, she sees it clearly, hanging in the air."

    j "{i}A portal.{/i}"

    jump scene7

label scene7:

    scene bg room

    "A clawed arm shoots its way out of the rift, crashing into the ground below."

    "Jo can hear the kids behind her shouting and hollering.
    {w}Why haven't they run yet?
    {w}Why hasn't {i}she{i}?"

    "The voice that's popped up before once again shows up:
    {w}{i}Don't panic.
    {w}Deep breath.
    {w}Calculate, formulate, and execute.{/i}"

    "Another claw has emerged and stuck itself into the concrete.
    {w}It's {i}pulling{/i} itself through the portal."

    "The monster is nearly through now.
    {w}A piercing shriek emerges from behind a jagged set of teeth, a single, crimson eye gazing down at the humans below."

    j "{i}Chonku.
    {w}A-Level.
    {w}Highly aggressive and deadly.
    {w}Its extendable appendages and hard outer shell make it both extremely agile and hardy.{i}"

    j "{i}Single-minded focus on chasing down its quarry.{/i}"

    "The world comes back to Jo."

    "Somebody is tugging on her sweater.
    {w}It's one of the kids.
    {w}His friends are shouting at him to leave, but he's still here, pleading with Jo."

    t2 "Miss, c'mon, we gotta run!"

    "It all suddenly clicks."

    j "You run."

    t2 "What?"

    "Her body is two steps ahead of her mind."

    "Jo quickly grabs her railboard and the beer off the ground."

    j "Don't worry.
    {w}I've got this."

    "A wide, knowing grin lights up Jo's face."

    "She really hopes that she'll come up with some sort of plan to justify it."

    "The Chonku is nearly through.
    {w}Its menacing jaw grinds in anticipation, sparks shooting out from its mouth."

    "Getting herself to a running start, Jo makes for a nearby maglev track."

    "In one fluid motion she throws her board onto it and hops on."

    "As she gains momentum, she pulls off a can and chucks it at the monster's eye."

    "It's a clean hit and the can sprays its contents onto the Chonku."

    "Good, now she's got its attention."

    "With a guttural roar, it pulls its last leg through the portal and immediately shoots out towards Jo."

    "She sees it coming, however, and ducks just in time for the Chonku to fly over her."

    "A cacophony of metal on metal rings across the docks as the Chonku crashes into a pile of shipping containers."

    "Jo barely has time to breathe a sigh of relief before it's upright and barreling straight at her."

    j "{i}Shitshitshitshit-{/i}"

    "She can hear it right behind her.
    {w}Instincts take over when she ducks at the very last moment, avoiding another charge from the Chonku."

    "The metal monstrosity has crashed face-first into another pile of shipping containers, several of which fly out and destroy
    the length of track in front of Jo."

    "With no other tracks nearby, Jo's mind races for a solution."

    j "{i}Hoverpads!!!{/i}"

    "Shifting her feet forward, Jo activates the hoverpad attachments."

    "They begin to whir up before sputtering out."

    j "{i}Oh no, you are{/i} not {i}crapping out on me now.{/i}"

    "Jo repeatedly presses into the board, trying desperately to kickstart the hoverpads."

    "At the very last moment, they burst to life."

    "The sudden force of the leap takes Jo off-guard.
    {w}Her surroundings tumble dizzyingly as she loses her footing and the board flies out from beneath her."

    "With a thud, Jo lands on top of a container.
    {w}Her momentum continues rolling her forward, straight into one of the containers torn open by the Chonku's landing."

    "A thoroughly uncomfortable wooden crate manages to break her fall."

    j "Aaaaaagh, fuck.
    {w}Fuck fuck fuck {i}fuck{/i}."

    "Everything hurts."

    "Jo quickly assesses the damage to her body.
    {w}Aside from what are sure to be some unsightly bruises and a nasty sprain, she seems otherwise fine."

    "A few seconds are all Jo has before the Chonku lets out another roar."

    j "{i}Hope those damn brats went to get help.{/i}"

    j "{i}Is this it?
    {w}Is this really how I go out?{/i}"

    "The Chonku's threatening eye peering at her through the hole in the container doesn't do much to dissuade her fears."

    "A sharpened claw thrusts out at Jo, barely missing her as she ducks behind a crate."

    "The claw breaks open the crate's top and digs itself deep into the container, struggling to get itself free."

    "A storm of wooden splinters cascade around Jo, followed by several metal objects that clink against the container's floor."

    "Jo hopes against hope they're something that can help her."

    "Her eyes widen when she realizes what they are."

    j "Wands?"

    "All around her are undecorated wands of different make, shapes, and sizes."

    "Many are in visibly damaged condition, but a few seem to be scuffed at most.
    {w}She grabs the least shitty-looking one and switches it on.
    {w}Nothing happens."

    "A quick inspection reveals that the wand lacks a battery."

    j "Of fucking COURSE!"

    "The Chonku's claw begins to pry itself free.
    {w}Jo racks her brain again, frantically thinking up her next move."

    "Her railboard.
    {w}She can gut the battery and jerry-rig it into the wand.
    {w}Maybe"

    "As the Chonku's claw breaks itself loose, Jo hurriedly grabs onto the retracting limb.
    {w}She'll find out if her plan is moronic soon enough."

    "Once she's out in the open, Jo lets go of the metal appendage."

    "With a rough tumble against the ground, she scrambles onto her feet and breaks out into a run."

    "Her railboard is lying nearby.
    {w}In one piece, thankfully.
    {w}She swipes it as she runs past, painfully aware of the Chonku behind her that's still out for blood."

    "Jo moves with an alacrity that surprises even herself.
    {w}Her heart thumps inside her chest but she manages to remain focused.
    {w}She has to."

    "Beneath her, the ground shudders with each step the Chonku takes."

    "Jo instincts kick in and she dives off to the side, dodging the Chonku's claw."

    "The shadow of a container offers her a moment's refuge as her pursuer momentarily loses sight of its prey."

    "She makes a checklist and ticks off the items as they come to mind:
    {w}Multitool.
    {w}Electrical tape.
    {w}Battery."

    "Muscle memory takes over and within seconds Jo has gutted her railboard of its battery and slapped it onto the wand."

    "A few crossed circuits and one silent prayer later, she flicks the wand's power switch."

    "Relief washes over her when the device lights up.
    {w}The power-up chime rings out, perhaps a bit too loudly."

    "The Chonku, unfortunately, has picked up the sound and turns to face Jo.
    {w}It lets loose a screeching roar and charges towards her."

    "Jo is quickly back on her feet and snaking between shipping containers.
    {w}She only now notices that the wand has been speaking."

    wv1 "... BE-BEFORE WAND FUNC-C-TIONS CAN BE-E-E AUTH-AUTH-AUTHORIZED."

    j "What?"

    wv1 "NEW U-USER DETECTED-D-D.
    {w}VOCAL CON-TRA-TRA-TRACT MUST BE CON-CONFIRMED BEFORE WAN-WAND FUNC-C-CTIONS CAN BE AUTH-AUTHORIZED."

    j "Fuck fuck, are you fucking serious?!"

    "Jo has lost sight of the Chonku but she can hear it prowling nearby."

    "Trying her best not to shout, Jo hisses her reply at the wand."

    j "Yes, I accept!
    {w}Joanna Jourdaine!
    {w}{i}Joanna Jourdaine accept accept accept{/i}!"

    wv1 "CON-CONTRACT ACCEPTED-D.
    {w}PLEASE CONFIR-FIR-FIR-FIR-FIR-FIR-"

    "Now she shouts."

    j "YES, I FUCKING CONFIRM."

    "The wand glows for a moment, warming in her grip."

    wv1 "WEL-WELCOME BACK, JOANN-N-A.
    {w}IT HAS BEEN-N SEV-SEVEN YEAR-YEAR-YEARS, TWO HUN-HUN-HUN-"

    j "For fuck's sake!
    {w}ENGAGE PERFORMANCE MODE."

    "A blinding flash of light bursts out of the wand, stopping Jo in her tracks.
    {w}She can feel something snaking around parts of her body as the wand seems to grow in size."

    "Before she has time to fully register that she's got her old warhammer and outfit, a loud crash from above grabs her attention."

    "Jo only has a few seconds to process that the Chonku is looming above her when it suddenly lunges down, mouth agape."

    "She instinctively leans away and in a flash, Jo is suddenly several feet from where she was standing, holographic sparkles and flowers trailing behind her."

    "Her footing nearly stumbles but she's able to right herself in time."

    j "Shit!"

    "{i}\"Stance wide.
    {w}Breathe in.
    {w}Shoulders squared.
    {w}Breathe out.{/i}\""

    "Jo regains her composure and follows each command."

    "Her hands tighten around the hulking warhammer.
    {w}It feels both incredibly awkward and familiar in her grip."

    "The Chonku, relentless as ever, shifts its body towards Jo and whips its two front claws out towards her."

    j "Ngh!"

    "Her warhammer comes up just in time, deflecting each of the blows that come her way."

    wv2 "JO-JOANNA, ARE YOU HAVING TROUB-TROUB-TROUBLE WITH YOUR FIGHT-T?"

    j "Just {i}-ngh-{/i} a little bit."

    wv2 "REC-REC-RECOMMENDATION: CREATE DISTAN-ANCE FROM CH-CH-CHONKU."

    wv2 "IT WILL THEN-EN LUNGE AND LE-LEAVE ITSELF-F-F OPEN TO COUNTERATTACK-K"

    wv2 "WOULD YOU LI-LIKE TO TURN TU-TU-TUTORIAL MO-"

    j "YES, HOLY SHIT."

    "As she shouts her reply, Jo leans away from the Chonku and zips back another few feet."

    "She sticks into the lean and continues zipping away until she's put several yards between her and the monster"

    "Just like her wand said, the Chonku rears itself onto its hind legs, readying another lunge."

    "Taking another deep breath, Jo plants herself and feels along the warhammer's handle, stopping once her palm brushes over a raised piece of metal."

    "She confidently assumes a swinging pose, hefting the weapon above her right shoulder."

    "Then everything goes into motion."

    "With a screeching roar, the Chonku flies directly at Jo.
    {w}Its gleaming blood-red mouth opens wide again, determined to devour its prey."

    "Her grip tightens over the raised part of the handle as she pulls it down along the shaft."

    "A loud click sounds off and the back of the warhammer's head sparks to life."

    "An array of jets flare up, which Jo uses to direct the warhammer into a powerful spin."

    "In the same moment, she leans off to her left."

    "The world spins dizzingly around Jo.
    {w}Her vision is filled with magnificent shapes and colors.
    {w}She's thrilled, terrified, and sick all at once."

    "Suddenly her warhammer hits its target."

    "With a sickening crunch, Jo's weapon strikes directly against the inside of the Chonku's mouth."

    j "HAHAHA! GOTCHA!!!"

    "It easily breaks through and shatters the Chonku's dense metal body."

    "A pained screech escapes its mouth before it's quickly silenced by more blows from Jo's warhamer."

    "In a tornado of colorful, whirling death, Jo uses the Chonku's momentum against itself."

    "The metal behemoth continues to fly straight forward, letting itself get completely shredded in the process."

    "Its remains fly past her and stumble onto the ground before vanishing in a puff of black smoke."

    "With her foe defeated, Jo resets the trigger to its original position, snuffing the warhammer's jets."

    "Some unseen force counteracts her spin and helps slow her down to a stop."

    j "Euuugh..."

    "That doesn't mean she's completely unaffected."

    "At first she thinks she can keep herself composed."

    "Then she vomits."

    j "Ohhhh godddd-"

    "Her warhammer falls out of her grip, turning back into its original wand form in a quick flash of light."

    "Jo is bent over a puddle of her puke, dry-heaving herself back to normal."

    j "I'm okay.
    {w}I'm okay."

    "When Jo wipes her mouth, she's somewhat surprised to find a wild grin plastered on her face."

    j "Hehe... Guess I still got i-
    {w}HEUUUGH"

    "Then she vomits again."

    j "OGGGHHHHHH BOYYYY-"

    j "OKAY.
    {w}I'M DONE.
    {w}THA'S IT."

    "Picking up her wand, she takes a slow, meandering walk back to her railboard."

    "All around her are the telltale signs of a fierce battle."

    "Most of the damage was done by the Chonku, but she doubts anybody is going to buy that.
    {w}She's got a reputation after all."

    "Railboard in hand she continues to retrace her steps, looking for something in the rapidly growing twilight."

    j "Where the hell were you..."

    j "Ah!"

    "Her eyes sparkle when she finds what she's been looking for:
    {w}The leftovers of the six-pack."

    j "Sweet relief."

    "What better way to get the taste of vomit out of her mouth than with beer?"

    "Jo grabs the least banged up can and plops down against a ruined shipping container."

    j "Time to wait for the cavalry, I guess."

    "Feelings of giddiness fill Jo from within.
    {w}A wide smile stretches across her face from ear to ear."

    j "{i}It's just the adrenaline high. That's it.{/i}"

    "For now, she's content to believe that."

    jump scene8

label scene8:

    scene bg room

    na "... burst out from a mysterious unregistered portal."

    na "This is the third unregistered portal to appear in the past month, as well as the first A-Level."

    na "MGI representatives have stated they are looking further into the anomalies."

    na "DCPD officials have given credit to 25-year-old \"Joanna Jourdaine\" for stopping the A-Level, a \"Chonku\"-type, in its tracks."

    na "Ms. Jourdaine made waves several years ago in MGI's Rising Star program. Daughter of Elias Jour-"

    j "Turn it off."

    v "What!?
    {w}But this is so cool!"

    v "Jo, you're famous!"

    j "No I'm not."

    k "You are on TV, yes?
    {w}That is not what famous people do?"

    j "Well yeah, but you gotta do more than that."

    k "Such as?"

    j "Man, I dunno Konnie.
    {w}Famous people stuff, look can we just turn the TV off?"

    "Jo's question gets treated as a rhetorical, forcing her to get up and turn it off herself."

    j "It's not a big deal, really."

    v "It is!
    {w}And so are you!"

    v "Jo, I can't believe you never told us that you used to be a magical girl!"

    j "Konnie knew."

    k "This is true."

    v "What!!!
    {w}How come you never told me!?"

    j "You didn't ask."

    v "I did!
    {w}That was like, the first thing I asked you when we met!"

    j "Oh.
    {w}Well, I used to be a magical girl."

    v "Wow, thanks for letting me know."

    j "No prob."

    v "That was sarcasm."

    j "I know."

    "Vera rolls her eyes in exaggerated frustration and turns to Konnie."

    k "So, Joanna, what will you do about work?"

    j "You mean here?"

    k "Yes."

    j "I mean, I wasn't planning on quitting or anything."

    k "And you are certain of that?"

    k "I can recall that you did not have so easy of a time before."

    j "Yeah, I remember..."

    j "It's different this time, Konnie."

    j "I just need to be able to finish up this contract and I'll be done."

    j "I can manage."

    k "If you say so."

    v "Hey, Konnie, what was Jo like as a magical girl?"

    j "Hey Squirt, I'm right here."

    v "Excuse me, I was talking to Konnie."

    k "I do not know.
    {w}I met Joanna after she quit.
    {w}Ask her."

    v "UGH."

    j "Slammo."

    j "...
    {w}I used to be a trainee."

    j "Studied under professional magical girls.
    {w}Went on some tours, did some shows, then quit."

    j "That's it, really."

    v "How can that be it?!"

    j "I dunno, that's it."

    v "That can't be it!"

    j "I mean, what do you want to know?"

    v "Okay, uh..."

    v "What was your toughest fight?"

    j "Took on an SS-Level once.
    {w}That was fun."

    v "...And?"

    j "Uh...
    {w}It was this big bird thing.
    {w}Pain in the ass to fight with a warhammer."

    v "Oh oh oh, okay, here's another one:
    {w}Why is your weapon a hammer?"

    j "Warhammer."

    v "That's what I said."

    j "No, you said hammer."

    j "I bashed monsters, not nails."

    v "Same difference."

    j "What, no they're completely different."

    v "So why a hammer?"

    j "For the last-
    {w}Whatever, I dunno, it seemed cool."

    v "That's it?"

    j "Um... yes?"

    v "Lame."

    v "At least the wand is cool.
    {w}I still can't believe you got this!"

    "Vera's inquiring hands turn the device over in her hands, studying every facet with meticulous scrutiny."

    v "Kinda janky though."

    j "Listen Squirt, I was kind of in a life or death situation."

    v "Just sayin'..."

    wv2 "JOANNA-ANNA."

    v "Whoa!"

    wv2 "PLEASE REMO-O-OVE ME FR-FROM THE CHILD'S GR-GR-GRIP."

    v "I'm 13!"

    wv2 "WHI-WHICH MAKES YOU A CH-CH-CH-CHILD B-BY THE \"U-U-UNITED NATIONS CON-CONVETION ON THE R-RIGHTS OF THE CH-CH-CHILD\"."

    v "Jo, your wand's a jerk."

    j "Yeah it is, and I'd appreciate it if you stopped messing with it."

    v "I'm just looking!"

    j "Then stop looking with your hands."

    v "But it's super cool!
    {w}I've never seen one up close!"

    j "Konnie, a little help?"

    k "Vera, give Joanna her jerkwand."

    v "Oh whatever."

    v "It's busted anyways."

    j "For now."

    "Jo takes the wand out of Vera's hands, who pouts at the loss of her toy."

    j "{i}Look{/i}, don't touch."

    "Vera is happy to take whatever opportunity she gets."

    "Jo brings the wand over to her workbench and takes a closer look at the device.
    {w}Despite the jerry-rigged battery, the wand is in decent shape."

    j "It's an older model.
    {w}... An MG-42"

    v "Isn't that a machine gun?"

    j "No.
    {w}I mean, yes, I think."

    j "Anyways, yeah, a wand could take the form of a machine gun."

    j "A lot of people go for ranged weapons because it doesn't take much training get good with."

    v "Oh, do it do it do it!"

    j "Can't.
    {w}This wand is already registered to me as a warhammer."

    v "Lame."

    j "Warhammers aren't lame."

    v "Uh, yeah they are."

    v "Why would I bring a hammer to a gunfight?"

    j "First of all, no. They're not."

    j "Second, you're not getting into {i}gunfights{/i}.
    {w}Wands only get used on Vaporites, not other magical girls."

    v "That's lame."

    j "Dude, you think everything is lame."

    v "No!
    {w}Just the lame stuff.
    {w}Like not having a machine gun as your weapon."

    "Vera grins wickedly from across the workbench, ducking as a piece of wire gets thrown at her head."

    "With a smirk, Jo returns to her work.
    {w}She's removed most of the outer casing and exposed the wand's inner circuitry."

    j "Hm... gotta remove the battery and-"

    wv2 "JOAN-AN-ANNA"

    j "Yeah, what?"

    wv2 "I M-M-MUST REMIND YOU-U THAT REMOVAL OF BAT-BAT-BATTERY IS IN VI-VIOLATION OF CONTRAC-TRACT."

    j "Oh f-"

    k "Language."

    j "Ffffuhreaking great."

    j "Maybe if I get electrocuted and keel over I can get out of this."

    v "Contract?"

    "A soft sigh escapes Jo's lips."

    "Her eyebrows furrow in frustrated concentration as she multitasks speaking and trying to not get shocked."

    j "Yeah... so... in order to get the wand to work last night...
    {w}I sorta had to sign a contract."

    "Jo's multitool snakes in-between wires and circuits.
    {w}Small noises buzz out from the wand, but it otherwise remains silent."

    j "I'm legally obligated to perform for MGI.
    {w}If I don't, I pay for damages and go to jail.
    {w}In that order."

    v "What?!
    {w}But they said on TV that you helped it from getting worse!"

    j "The cops did.
    {w}MGI didn't really give a sh-"

    "Jo stops her work and catches herself.
    {w}She can feel Konnie's gaze boring into the back of her head."

    j "...They don't really care."

    v "That sucks!"

    j "Pfft, you're tellin' me."

    j "Honestly, I'm not even sure where to start.
    {w}It's been a while since I've done this whole thing."

    wv2 "MAY I SUGGEST SEEKING SPONSORSHIP?"

    j "Oh, guess you're fixed, huh?"

    wv2 "INTERFACE FUNCTIONS ARE REPAIRED."

    wv2 "COMBAT FUNCTIONALITY AT 58 PERCENT."

    j "Something to look at later."

    j "Anyways, uh... Wand.
    {w}You said something about sponsorship?"

    wv3 "CORRECT."

    wv3 "I HAVE PUT TOGETHER A ROADMAP FOR YOU.
    {w}WOULD YOU LIKE TO HEAR IT?"

    j "Sure."

    wv3 "STEP 1: TRAIN FOR THE MGI GRAND OPEN.
    {w}STEP 2-"

    j "Hang on, hang on, you want me to do a competition?"

    wv3 "CORRECT."

    wv3 "STEP 2: RANK WITHIN TOP 3 IN THE MGI GRAND OPEN."

    wv3 "STEP 3: SECURE GUARANTEED SPONSORSHIP."

    wv3 "WOULD YOU LIKE T-"

    j "No."

    j "{i}Grand Open huh?{/i}"

    v "You gonna do it?"

    j "I mean, looks like I have to, right?"

    j "{i}Just gotta find somewhere to train, I guess.{/i}"

    jump scene9a

label scene9a:

    scene bg room

    "It's been years since Jo has set foot in this gym."

    "New equipment, new furniture, new everything, really."

    "She tries not to think too much about it and walks up to reception."

    "A peppy, well-cut young man with an equally well-cut hairdo greets her warmly."

    gr "Hi there, welcome to Jimu!
    {w}How can I help you?"

    j "Yeah, I was wondering how much does it cost to use the gym?"

    gr "Are you an associated act with MGI?"

    j "Yeah, that's me, a professional magical girl."

    gr "Perfect.
    {w}May I have your name, please?"

    j "Joanna Jourdaine.
    {w}That's J-O-U-R-D-A-I-N-E."

    gr "Great, just gimmie a sec..."

    gr "Oh...
    {w}You're unranked."

    j "...And?"

    gr "...and you don't have an official sponsor or producer."

    j "...And?"

    gr "Well Ms. Jourdaine, I'm terribly sorry but as it stands I can't really do anything for you."

    j "What!
    {w}But I thought-"

    hv "Jo!"

    "A solid weight crashes into Jo from behind, enveloping her in a vicegrip."

    "Hannah, bubbling with excitement, nuzzles against Jo's cheek and shakes her back and forth."

    h "Ahhh you're a magical girl againnnnn!"

    j "Ye-Yeah, we already established this."

    h "I knowwww, but I'm still so happy!!!"

    "Standing off to the side is Sie, casually scrolling through something on her phone."

    "She spares a passing glance and questioning look at Jo before she returns to her idle browsing."

    "The two women are dressed in form-fitting exercise clothes, the kind that shows either dedicated work ethics or dangerous shopping habits."

    "Hot shame washes over Jo then.
    {w}She's painfully aware of the plain white tee and old athletic shorts that she's wearing."

    "Of course they'd be here, why wouldn't they?"

    "They're {i}real{/i} magical girls."

    "Hannah pushes away from Jo, holding her friend at arm's length and beaming a wonderful smile."

    h "What are you doing here?"

    j "I was just, uh, checking out the gym."

    s "That's a surprise."

    "Without looking up from her phone, Sie shoots a cutting remark at Jo."

    j "...What is?"

    s "You putting in effort."

    "Jo doesn't really have anything to say to that.
    {w}Sie isn't wrong.
    {w}She might be a jerk, but she's not wrong."

    j "Yeah, well, since I'm not signed on with anyone it doesn't look like I can do much."

    h "That shouldn't be a problem, you can just train with us!"

    sj "What?"

    h "Yeah!"

    j "Um, yeah, I..."

    s "Hannah, what are you doing?
    {w}We're on set schedules, we can't just fit random people into the routine."

    h "Don't be silly, this is Jo!"

    h "Excuse me, we can take our friend in right?"

    gr "Absolutely, Ms. Blum."

    h "See?
    {w}You're totally fine!"

    j "O-Oh... Great..."

    "Before either Jo or Sie can protest further, Hannah shuttles the three of them forward."

    jump scene9b

label scene9b:

    scene bg room

    "Jo can't keep this up much longer.
    {w}Her warhammer is getting heavier with each breath she takes."

    "The Crowbats swarm incessantly around her.
    {w}Her swings don't seem to be connecting."

    "She's stuck on the defensive now.
    {w}All she can do is zip away and have the swarm chase her."

    "The beat of the music thumps in her veins.
    {w}Rhythmic tones and a striking melody guide her steps, helping Jo regain her tempo."

    j "{i}Wait for them to group up and...
    {w}NOW!{/i}"

    "Jo quickly reverses her momentum and leans forward, charging into the Crowbat swarm."

    "Her warhammer's jets flare up and send her into an intense spin."

    "Jo sets her focus the head of her warhammer."

    "It's an old trick she remembers from her time training:
    {w}Lock your eyes on a fixed point and trick your body into thinking it's stationary."

    "A series of satisfying thuds crash against her warhammer.
    {w}She's probably gotten at least a dozen in that hit alone."

    "Gracefully, Jo steps and twirls out of her spin, sweat beading on her skin as her nostrils flare."

    "A small flash of light surrounds her warhammer, which is now back in its original wand form."

    "The music begins to fade when a bright chime rings out against the metal walls of the practice room, signifying the encounter has finished."

    j "Haha! Gimmie something tougher!"

    "Jo's enthusiasm, however, quickly dies out when she sees the score display:"

    "HANNAH: 49
    {w}- SIERRA: 37
    {w}- JOANNA: 14"

    "Only halfway through their set and Jo has been completely outclassed in every round."

    "Exhaustion suddenly catches up with her."

    "While Jo is bent over struggling to catch her breath, Hannah and Sie stand nearby with weapons still in hand."

    s "I'd say I was disappointed, but you'd have to impress me first."

    s "So you like your spin attack, huh?"

    j "I'm just figuring stuff out again, okay?"

    s "Figure it out on your own time.
    {w}Having to handicap myself so you can play catchup is getting real old real quick."

    j "I-I know, I'm just outta practice..."

    s "Well we're not."

    s "Stick to the D-Levels if you're just going to waste our time."

    "That doesn't sit well with Jo."

    j "I'd say I did fine."

    j "These last few fights have been lopsided anyways.
    {w}They've all been swarms of small-fries."

    j "Like, come on, you guys have guns and boxing gloves.
    {w}I'm swinging around a block of fucking concrete."

    s "Don't blame your weapon choice, which was, hey surprise, {i}your choice{/i}."

    h "It's okay Jo, we've got some more fights to go through, you'll get it down!"

    j "Right..."

    h "Okay girls, take-five?
    {w}I'll go get us some drinks!"

    "As she makes for the exit, Hannah passes by Jo and leans in for a whisper."

    h "Hey, try to play nice with Sie, okay?"

    h "She may be pushy but she means well."

    j "{i}She does a great fucking job of hiding it then.{/i}"

    h "I know you two aren't exactly on the best of terms, but I think you guys can patch things up."

    "Before Jo can reply, Hannah is already off with a wink."

    "Sie is off against the wall, redoing her hand wraps and speaking with her wand."

    s "Tenko, accuracy."

    sw "84 PERCENT."

    s "Tch.
    {w}Shots fired?"

    sw "127."

    s "Steps taken?"

    sw "2,397."

    j "Still going with the guns I see."

    s "They work and they're what I'm good with."

    j "Heh, I remember when Maria tried to get you to go with a whip.
    {w}Said that was more your personality."

    s "Mmm."

    s "Tenko, log attack and movement patterns."

    sw "COMBAT DATA HAS BEEN LOGGED."

    j "So, uh...
    {w}How was the tour?"

    s "Oh, now you're interested?"

    j "What's that supposed to mean?"

    "Sie turns to look at Jo directly now, scorn painted across her face."

    s "It means you didn't give a shit about what I was doing before, so why are you pretending to now?"

    j "What? I-"

    s "Do you think this is a game?"

    s "You must, because you sure aren't treating it like a job."

    s "Newsflash Jo, some of us take this work seriously."

    s "If you want to pick up a wand again and suddenly decide you're a magical girl, that's on you.
    {w}But don't go thinking for a second that we're equals."

    "Whatever filter Jo had bothered maintaining is now completely gone."

    j "Wow, okay, this is great coming from the sellout."

    s "ExCUSE me?"

    j "You're everything that's wrong with the industry."

    j "Pandering to the sleazy fans and using a brainless set of weapons."

    "Jo makes sure to put a bit of extra bite behind her comments."

    j "Plastering your face on worthless junk so you can trick people into buying the idea that you're a real magical girl."

    j "What's the old saying?
    {w}Repeat a lie often enough and you start to believe it?"

    "If Sie was annoyed before, she's furious now."

    "However, she calms herself down and chuckles."

    s "You continue to {i}not{/i} surprise me, Jo."

    s "You're still wrapped up in your own damn self."

    s "No, it's not your shitty attitude or your shitty work ethic."

    s "No, it's got to be something else, right?
    {w}Joanna Jourdaine, Little Miss Prodigy is never wrong."

    s "Well, Jo, while you've been stuck in high school, the rest of us moved on and figured things out."

    s "You're an adult.
    {w}Start acting like it."

    "With that, Sie returns to working on her hand wraps."

    "A thousand thoughts race through Jo's mind, but none of them find their way to her lips."

    "Jo decides she's had enough.
    {w}She quickly grabs her things and makes for the exit."

    h "Ah, Jo!
    {w}Where are you going?"

    j "I'vegotstufftodosorry"

    "Before Hannah can say anything Jo is already out the door."

    jump scene10a

label scene10a:

    scene bg room

    "Figures she'd end up here."

    r "Twice in the same week?
    {w}Guess you really missed us!"

    r "What're you having tonight, Jo?"

    j "DCB is fine.
    {w}Thanks."

    r "You got it."

    "Jo takes a stool at the end of the counter and looks out at the rest of the bar."

    "While The Blue Light isn't completely empty like she's used to, it's at least not packed like it was the other night."

    "The stage is completely empty now, a series of flat black panels."

    j "That was a cool show."

    r "What was that?"

    j "The show.
    {w}The FCR show, I mean."

    r "Oh!
    {w}Yeah, they're a great group of gals."

    r "Hey, speaking of, I heard about what happened on the news!"

    "Jo cringes internally."

    r "Are you okay?"

    j "Yeah, I'm fine, just some bruises but nothing I can't handle."

    "She makes a showy display of flexing, which elicits a chuckle from Robert."

    r "Glad to hear it."

    r "I also heard that you used to be a magical girl too?"

    r "That's so cool!"

    j "Heh, that's one word for it."

    r "But it is!"

    r "Magical girl shows have so much, well, {i}magic{/i} to them!"

    j "Yeah, well now I get to do them.
    {w}Yay me."

    r "Hey, no way!
    {w}When is your next show?"

    j "Technically, I'm a magical girl but I don't exactly have anything lined up."

    r "How come?"

    j "Kinda need a producer.
    {w}But I'm both old and out of nowhere, so there aren't exactly a lot of people looking to sign me up."

    j "I thought I'd train and figure stuff out, but that... hasn't exactly worked."

    r "Shoot, that sucks."

    r "Hey, why don't you come by tomorrow?
    {w}One of the FCR regulars, Miri, practices here in the afternoon."

    r "I'm sure she'd be more than happy to let you train with her."

    j "I dunno..."

    r "C'mon, it'll be super laidback.
    {w}Miri is pretty chill."

    r "Why don't you swing by to at least meet her first?"

    "Where Jo would normally refuse, Robert's earnest smile is convincing her otherwise."

    j "Um... Okay.
    {w}Sure.
    {w}Yeah."

    r "Great!"

    r "It'll be fun, I promise."

    "Jo takes a light sip of her beer and wonders how true that is."

    jump scene10b

label scene10b:

    "The next day, Jo convinces herself to swing by The Blue Light."

    "Sure enough, onstage is Miri, the magical girl with the hacksaw from the other day."

    "It doesn't seem like Robert is working, so Jo could pretty much turn around and walk away."

    "She knows that wouldn't be helping anyone though, least of all herself."

    "Jo steels her nerves and approaches Miri, who is in the middle of moving between deep stretch poses."

    j "...Hi."

    "Miri responds cheerily while continuing her stretches."

    m "Heya!"

    m "You must be Jo.
    {w}Robert told me all about you."

    j "Is that right?
    {w}What did he say?"

    m "That you-"

    "While twisting into a position that hurts Jo's muscles just by looking at it, Miri points at her with a grin."

    m "-used to be a magical girl!"

    j "Yeah.
    {w}Yeah, I did."

    j "But that was a long time ago."

    m "You and me both."

    j "Huh...
    {w}No kidding."

    m "Yep, it's been...
    {w}Shoot, just about twelve years now!"

    j "I gotta say, that's not surprising."

    j "I caught your performance the other day at the revue thing."

    m "Oh cool!
    {w}Yeah, that was a good one."

    m "HopperHeads are fun because they let you set your own pace."

    m "Granted, it's gotta be a quick one!"

    m "So how long has it been for you?"

    j "Seven years, or something like that."

    m "Lemme guess, feeling outta whack?"

    j "Kinda."

    m "Ha, that's putting it mildly."

    m "I was just like you.
    {w}Stopped being a magical girl in my early 20s and came back to it in my 30s."

    m "Treasure your health, young'un."

    m "What we do only gets harder with age."

    m "Hey, c'mon up and join me here!"

    "Miri stops her stretching and motions for Jo to step onto the stage."

    "Jo thinks about saying no but surprises herself when she agrees without giving it much thought."

    m "Don't feel like you've gotta keep up, just go as far as comfortable."

    j "Gotcha."

    "The pair settle into a quiet rhythm of deep breathing and stretching."

    j "So, Miri...
    {w}Can I ask you a question?"

    m "Of course!"

    j "...Why did you come back?
    {w}To being a magical girl, I mean."

    m "Because I love it!"

    m "That's it, really."

    j "Then why did you quit?"

    m "Ah, that's the real question."

    m "Well, when I was on tour back in my 20s my mother passed away."

    j "O-Oh, I'm sorry I shouldn't hav-"

    m "Don't worry, it's fine."

    m "I took some time to reevaluate what I was doing and decided that my family needed me more than Dub City did."

    m "As I'm sure you know, you don't just {i}stop{/i} being a magical girl."

    m "I missed it so much that after some time out of the scene I tried to go back to MGI."

    m "Silly me thought I'd always have a place there, but they didn't think the same."

    m "It all worked out though!"

    m "Ended up getting involved with FCR and never looked back."

    j "Yeah, it's great and all but do you ever feel like you're missing something?"

    m "I assume you're talking about the amateur aspect of FCR?"

    "Jo didn't want to phrase it like that, but that's exactly what she means."

    m "Sure, some part of me misses all the flash and style of working as a professional magical girl."

    m "But I figured out what my priorities were."

    m "Anyways, how're you feeling?"

    m "Up for a few fights?"

    j "Sure, what did you have in mind?"

    m "How does working your way up from D-Levels sound?"

    j "Not to toot my own horn or anything, but I was a pretty good magical girl."

    m "{i}Was.{/i}"

    m "No shame in taking it slow."

    m "I don't doubt you've got those skills, Jo.
    {w}But it's been a while and you've gotta get body back into the swing of things."

    "Jo knows she can't argue."

    "With Miri, at least, she doesn't feel like she has to."

    j "Alright \"coach\".
    {w}You got it."

    jump scene11a

label scene11a:

    scene bg room

    "{i}One week later.{/i}"

    k "It is your big night tonight."

    j "Yep."

    v "We're gonna get up close to the stage, right Konnie?"

    k "I do not like the pit of moshing."

    k "But I will watch from the seats."

    j "Guys, it's not a big deal, it's just a qualifier.
    {w}This isn't even the actual competition."

    v "But we get to see you perform!!!"

    j "Yeah, and hopefully you don't see me bomb."

    k "You will be fine."

    k "And if you are not fine, okay.
    {w}We will get pizza and make you fine."

    j "Thanks, Konnie."

    v "C'mon, let's go let's go!"

    v "We gotta get there early for good spots."

    jump scene11b

label scene11b:

    "The vibe at the Qualifiers backstage is far more muted than Jo thought it would be."

    "She picked out a few dozen, maybe a hundred or so girls participating in the contest.
    {w}And that's only counting the amateur contestants."

    "Everybody is off on their own, doing their own preparation."

    "For some that amounts to carrying out bizarre, personal rituals: stuff like kissing a CD album or coating their wands in scented oils."

    "For most, however, it involves going over the details of their routine."

    "Nearly all of the contestants share one thing in common:"

    j "{i}Holy crap they're all a bunch of kids.{/i}"

    j "{i}Am I the oldest one here?{/i}"

    "Deciding she'd rather not know the definitive answer to that question, Jo goes off to her own corner and sinks into the music coming from her earbuds."

    "The high-energy electro funk pulsing into her head has blended into white noise."

    "Jo takes a deep breath, closes her eyes, and rolls the tape back to its beginning."

    "When the music starts back up she settles into the groove, letting the rhythm guide her."

    j "{i}You got this.
    {w}You're good.
    {w}You're fine.{/i}"

    "Suddenly she feels a tap on her shoulder."

    "When she opens her eyes, Hannh's face greets her."

    "Taking out one of her earbuds, Jo also notices that Sie is standing off to the side, eyes glued to her phone."

    "The Grand Open Qualifiers attract magical girls from both the amateur and professional worlds."

    "While top performers like Sie and Hannah don't have anything to prove, they still benefit from the exposure."

    "Their presence also draws in a fairly sizable crowd, which helps offset the huge numbers of amateur contestants."

    j "Hey, what's up?"

    h "Just thought I'd stop by before things started and wish you luck!"

    j "Thanks, you too."

    "Hannah's lips start to tremble as her eyes begin to water."

    h "I'm just... so happy that you're back with us."

    h "I know you'll do great."

    j "Yeah, I hope."

    j "Well, I {i}better{/i} do great.
    {w}How else am I gonna get out of debt?"

    h "That's the spirit~!"

    "Just then, a small chime sounds out and a hush falls over the backstage."

    "The PA system above their heads rings out with the voice of an announcer."

    an "Attention contestants: Qualifiers will begin in twenty minutes.
    {w}Twenty minutes, contestants."

    an "Please see an MGI stagehand to ensure that your songs and equipment are prepared."

    "When the announcer signs off, chatter backstage picks up once more."

    "It's fraught with the nervous, yet excited anticipation of dozens of magical girls, anxiously eager to perform."

    h "Well, guess we should get everything ready, huh?"

    "Hannah throws her arms out and pulls Jo into a ferocious hug."

    h "Mmmmmm, good luck Jo!"

    h "You're going to be fantastic."

    j "Same to you."

    "The two friends exchange one last set of smiles and hugs before going off their separate ways."

    "However, as Hannah and Sie turn to leave Jo calls out and stops them in their tracks."

    j "Hey, Sie."

    s "Huh?"

    "Sie, surprised, manages to tear her eyes away from her phone."

    j "Good luck to you too."

    s "I... Uh..."

    s "Heh."

    s "I'll be fine.
    {w}You're gonna need it."

    s "C'mon Hannah, let's get going."

    "Jo isn't quite sure what to make of Sie's response, but she figures that it's her own backhanded way of giving a compliment."

    "She'll take it."

    jump scene12

label scene12:

    a "Contestant 287: Joanna Jourdaine."

    a "Begin."

    "The portal crackles open, letting out a large three-headed dog-like beast."

    "However, it lacks any sort of discernible features.
    {w}Its shifting, polygonal mass is comprised of a solid onyx material."

    "On the announcer's mark, Jo swings her wand and becomes enveloped in a flash of light."

    "A moment later, Jo stands proud with her warhammer, striking what she hopes comes across as a cool looking pose."

    "Cheers and claps from the audience seem to indicate that's the case."

    wv3 "{i}HOUNDINI{/i}."

    wv3 "{i}BEWARE MOUTH LASERS.
    {w}RECOMMEND CLOSING DISTANCE AND FORCING MONSTER TO SPLIT APART.{/i}"

    j "Thanks, I was planning on it."

    "A low growl seems to emanate from the Houndini."

    "The music has started to pick up now.
    {w}Jo feels it in her feet and shakes her legs in anticipation."

    "As soon as Jo takes a step forward it hurriedly jumps back, putting several yards between them."

    "Leaving Jo no room to breathe, the Houndini opens all three of its mouths and begins charging a crackling ball of red and black energy."

    j "Anti-Magic Coat!"

    "At her command, the head of Jo's warhammer shimmers and changes color.
    {w}Its neon purple head is now glowing an iridescent rainbow sheen."

    j "Wait for it..."

    "The Houndini is still charging, but Jo knows the song playing right now.
    {w}It's nearly at the chorus."

    "Moments before the chorus beat drops, Jo leans forward and zips ahead, a few feet closer to the Houndini."

    "Though it hasn't yet finished charging up, the Houndini instinctively reacts."

    "The pulsing energy coalesces into a tight ball before it explodes, shooting out in a jagged line straight at Jo."

    j "HAH!"

    "She's off by a hair of a second."

    "Jo puts all of her weight into the swing, slapping away the menacing bolt of energy as soon as the chorus begins."

    "A gasp emanates from the crowd."

    "She's got their attention.
    {w}Now she needs to follow up."

    "A few dashes forward bring her directly in swinging range of the Houndini."

    "When she gets there, however, the hulking mass of shifting black shapes suddenly splits apart into three large dog-shaped entities."

    "Instead of chasing them, Jo swings her warhammer above her head and starts pounding into the stage."

    "The audience audibly expresses their confusion."

    "Her backing song is back on the main verse now, so she's still making sure to pound out the concrete floor to the beat."

    j "Repulsor Coat."

    "The head of Jo's warhammer shimmers once more, this time taking on a pulsing sheen of blue and white."

    "When the chorus hit, she makes her move."

    "The song's high energy beats thump out across the stage."

    "Moving in time with the music, Jo swings out in a wide arc and sends the piles of rubble spraying out towards the Houndinis."

    "Her enemies react as planned and dart away from the projectiles."

    "However, Jo is quick to follow up."

    "She keeps a bead on a single target, tracking them through the shower of concrete raining down on them."

    "It's so preoccupied with with dodging that it isn't aware of Jo's movement."

    "Jo waits for the right moment when the Houndini is within striking range and she takes her swing."

    "Pulling along the raised part of her haft, the warhammer's jets flare up."

    "In one quick motion, she brings her weapon down in a blur and crushes the Houndini, causing it to dissipate in a buff of smoke."

    j "Two left!"

    j "But...
    {w}Where are they?"

    "Before Jo can scan her surroundings a burning bolt of energy sears her back, eliciting exclamations of concern from the crowd."

    "Somewhere in the chaos, the other two Houndinis recombined and snuck behind her."

    "Stunned by the attack, Jo quickly regains her stance and brings her warhammer up to defend."

    j "Anti-Magic Coat!"

    "The iridescent sheen covers the warhammer once more."

    "Just in time, as the Houndini lets off a quick burst of energy that Jo is barely able to deflect."

    "It's bearing down on her now, unrelenting with its onslaught of energy attacks."

    "All Jo can do is hold her warhammer out, using the head as a shield to protect herself."

    "The music has nearly reached its end.
    {w}She's got maybe one more verse before the round finishes."

    j "Hey Wand."

    wv3 "YES, JOANNA."

    j "Can you fly the warhammer?"

    wv3 "YES."

    j "Good, make a circuit around the stage.
    {w}Come back to this spot.
    {w}Set thrusters to max."

    wv3 "WHAT ARE YOU PLANNING, JOANNA?"

    j "Just do it!"

    "In that moment, Jo steps to the side, avoiding the Houdini's constant stream of attacks, and kicks on the the warhammer's jets."

    "Her body twists as she swings out her weapon in a wide arc."

    "However, at the end of her swing Jo lets go of her weapon and sends it flying out."

    j "{i}Gotta time this right.{/i}"

    "Free of her warhammer, Jo quickly dashes out to the Houndini, avoiding all of its energy blasts."

    "She quickly closes the distance, and when she does she latches onto the Houndini's shifting form."

    "It's surprisingly easy to gain a grip, especially now that one of the heads has been taken care of."

    "Once Jo's grabbed onto the Houndini, she reverses direction and dashes back to where she came from."

    "It takes all of her strength to keep a grip on the monster, but she's able to carry it with her in her dash."

    "The Houndini snaps and snarls at Jo, trying to sink both sets of its teeth into her."

    "She does all she can to keep it pinned to this position, all while keeping track of the warhammer's position."

    "One bite grabs her upper left arm and she cries out in pain, but manages to keep her hold."

    "The warhammer is approaching quickly now.
    {w}It'll hit their path in a matter of seconds."

    "Jo tries to break away but the Houndini has a firm hold on her arm."

    "In a moment of panic, Jo resorts to the last thing she can think of:"

    "Letting out a guttural yell, she smashes her head against the Houndini's."

    "The monsters lets go of her with a yelp.
    {w}As soon as it does, Jo dashes away."

    "In the next second her warhammer smacks right into the Houndini's midsection, driving the head directly into its gut."

    "The sheer impact is enough to drive the weapon through the monster's body, splitting it in two before it dissipates into smoke."

    j "Thrusters off!!!"

    "With its jets turned off, Jo's warhammer is left sailing through the air."

    "The song is nearly over now.
    {w}Just a few seconds left."

    "Jo races for her weapon, hands outstretched."

    j "Almost got it!"

    "She barely gets a grip on the warhammer's haft and strains to pull it out of its spin."

    "The weapon pushes against her, bringing Jo along for the ride."

    "Her body at least slows the warhammer down and the two of them tumble onto the hard concrete of the stage."

    "As the last few notes of the song play out, Jo stumbles onto her feet and strikes a haggard pose with her weapon."

    "At the song's end, the crowd breaks out into applause and cheers."

    "She can't see the judges, but if the audience is anything to go by she might do alright."

    jump scene13a

label scene13a:

    "Jo can't help but feel personally attacked by Vera's scrutinizing glare."

    v "So... If you hammer-"

    j "Warhammer."

    v "-could fly, why didn't you just have it fly back to you?"

    v "Y'know, so you didn't have to chase it."

    j "That's..."

    "Jo decides to give Vera this one."

    j "A good point, Squirt."

    j "Planning isn't my strong suit, heh."

    v "Whatever, it kicked ass anyways!"

    v "Oh, sorry Konnie."

    k "That is okay.
    {w}Joanna did indeed do much asskicking."

    v "Damn right!"

    k "Mmm."

    v "Hehehe..."

    v "Anyways, when do you find out the results?"

    j "Should be soon."

    v "What if you don't get in?"

    j "No idea."

    v "Jo, no!
    {w}Don't go to jail!"

    j "I'm not going to jail."

    j "But I don't think it's something to worry about right now, anyways."

    j "I'll just have Konnie bail me out."

    k "Mmm."

    j "You say that now."

    v "You better not get locked up you dummy."

    j "Ha, I'll try."

    jump scene13b

label scene13b:

    h "It's official, you're in!"

    j "In the competition."

    j "This isn't over yet, Hannah."

    h "Ahhh, I'm so happy for you!"

    "Jo lets herself be picked up and smothered by Hannah."

    "The situation calls for it, anyways."

    "Out of hundreds of contestants, Jo managed to make the top fifty that were accepted into The Grand Open.
    {w}As did Hannah and Sie."

    s "I'll admit, I'm impressed."

    j "Thanks, Sie."

    j "Glad you're in too.
    {w}Hannah said you put on a good show."

    "Sie, unprepared for Jo's praise, stutters out her response."

    s "W-What are you talking about?!"

    s "Of course I did, you don't become eighth best magical girl for nothing you know."

    s "A-Anyways, you better not slack off now."

    s "If you get knocked out in the first round then I'm really going to be pissed off, you got that Jourdaine?"

    j "Yeah yeah, whatever."

    h "So what do you think, you wanna train with us?"

    j "I appreciate the offer Hannah, I really do."

    j "But I've got a pretty good coach over at The Blue Light."

    j "I'm gonna give her a bit more time to see if we keep jiving."

    h "As long as it works for you~!"

    j "I think it will."



    # This ends the game.

    return