spellbinders | (no subject)

Who: Haru and YOU.
Where: Botanical Garden
When: Day 151, mid-afternoon. (I know it's Dec 5th other places, so I forward dated this juuuust a little.)
Open/Closed: Open. Because Haru is inviting everyone to a tea party.

Hello everyone out there. As you may know, there is a garden area on the seventh floor of the apartment building we're all living in. I'm inviting anyone who hears this to come join me for tea. Think of it like a bonding activity? Getting to know someone better that you might have only run into a couple of times?

Or you could just come and help relieve me of all of the tea cakes and cookies I made this morning, it's up to you! Thank you for your time!

[Really, this is just Haru's excuse to celebrate to herself, just a little! It's Haru's birthday today and she feels much better doing something nice for the rest of the coven than just doing something nice for herself! Not that anyone outside her really knows that. Or so she thinks? When characters arrive to the garden they will see several smaller tables set up like this with several warm pots of tea around and plenty of cups! She meant for this to be something where the coven could help themselves.]

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[did someone say tea party? (did someone not say it was for a birthday?)]

[in any case, Madoka is here, and she has brought a small gift for the hostess — though, it's just a simple tea party gift, and not a birthday gift, a tiny little box wrapped up in a bow.]

[It's a good thing Haru can assume that. Because she totally didn't say anything about her birthday. Akira and Yusuke better not have spilled the beans on her!!]

Madoka-chan, good afternoon!

Hello, Haru-san! This is really nice, thank you for putting it all together.

[Madoka offers up the tiny box! specifically, it's a music box. it plays this.]

What is this for, Madoka-chan?

[Because wow, this is a really thoughtful little gift. Haru winds it up and lets it play for a moment to admire it for the moment.]

It's just something as thanks for the tea!

[she doesn't know. are you going to tell her, Haru. TELL HER.]

I appreciate it, Madoka-chan. I'll have to put it somewhere safe!

[Like in her hut back on the island, and right now? Tucked somewhere safe in her apartment.

Also, SHE MIGHT NOT TELL! You never know.]

[yes, successful present giving is a go.]

Do you have any tea recommendations? I want to try whichever one is your favorite!

I quite like the plum tea I got from a cute little tea shop here. Would you like to try it?

[Lucky enough? She already has a pot of it brewed.]

They pair well with some of the denser tea cakes.

I'd love to try it, thank you.

[it sounds sweet, and if there's one thing Madoka loves, it's sweet-flavored treats. and chatting with older sister figures.]

Do you like it here so far, Haru-san?

[She will pour Madoka a cup and offers her a small dish of honey.

She gives a thoughtful hum.]

I don't dislike the city setting of it all. It reminds me a lot of home. What about you, Madoka-chan?

It's the same for me, honestly! Right down to the part where it's better if you hide your magic.

[not that anybody can actually see the threats that magical girls back home face. she's been wondering if there's something similar here.]

I understand that. At home I can't even reveal any of my power. It could have a negative effect on what we're doing.

[She sighs, and wonders...if it's like that here. It seems Madoka and Haru really might be on the same page?]

It makes sense, though ... that's something that comes with being a superhero, right? You have to keep your identity secret.

People will come to expect too much of you if you don't keep your identity a secret, Madoka-chan.

[that actually catches her off guard a little. that particular consequence of having no secret identity is a pretty common superhero trope, Madoka supposes, but when put into context to the work that she does, it's also something that rarely ever occurs to her. the enemies she fights back home are invisible — the odds of anyone ever believing her if she tried to explain them have always seemed pretty slim. she is sort of relegated to the shadows, helping people in a way that they can't see, much less think to ask for.]

[even putting all that aside, Madoka is the type to help until it literally kills her — so seeing when people are asking too much of her might be tougher than it is for most.]

I ... I guess that's true. I never really thought about it like that — I was mostly thinking it would be really dangerous if your identity was revealed.

Of course. Because evil people will want to use your real identity against you. Your family...your friends. It's better not to get caught up in that kind of mess, right?

[She frowns, and wonders...hopes? She hopes that Madoka keeps herself safe.]

You've never revealed your identity to anyone, right?

Well ... back home, no — I mean, most of my friends back home are doing the same thing I am.

Most of my friends here know, though. [that's not a bad thing, is it? Madoka trusts them all to keep it a secret, if needed.]

As long as you trust someone to keep your secret. I trust you would keep mine if you ever ended up back in my world. If the identity of the Phantom Thieves comes out...well, I don't want to think about that.

[Either they are high in demand for requests or they want to arrest the Phantom Thieves. There is no inbetween.]