who am i: jelly 17 (cw: mentions of death/identity/spoilers)

[magicurls]

[ Scene: Mami in the greenhouse, with a fluffy leaf-green hedgehog on her shoulder. ]

Hi everyone...

I wanted to let you know about something more serious. It's about who...or what I am. So this doesn't surprise you later. I guess some of you already knew I wasn't quite what I appeared to be, but I'm still processing it.



I used to watch shows about magical girls when I was younger. If you've never seen those shows before, they're about girls with magic who use some kind of gem to change into cute battle outfits, have animal friends to mentor them, other magical friends to fight alongside...and love and justice always won out. I used to dream about what it would be like to become one, though I was sure it wasn't real.

And then, when I least expected it, it happened. I was heavily wounded after a car crash, and a cute animal appeared to me. He promised me any wish I wanted as long as I agreed to become a magical girl and fight witches who trap and kill humans. So I wished to keep living...and became what I am now.

I thought I was just a regular magical girl like the ones on TV. But it turns out I'm a lich. Revenant. Undead. He ripped my soul out of my body and put it in a gem...I know that's usually dark magic. I've been reassured that I'm safe for you all to be around, Rosetta helps keep my soul gem safe. But it just feels strange, that I've been like this for a while...is all. Any advice on living with it would be appreciated.

Comments

[bakegarasu]

"I got them back, but... I don't think I was supposed to. It was a weird situation even for that. ... Anyway." He gives her a small smile. ... He's getting better at these.

"... You're not alone here. There's other people who can help if you need."

[magicurls]

"I'm really glad to hear that. It'd be much scarier if I didn't have others who understand."

Mami pauses for a moment to breathe. It's still peaceful here.

"Were you ever lonely, before all this?"

[bakegarasu]

He chuckles quietly. "Yes. Not because of this, though. I've only ever had one friend before this place... though I don't think I recognized it as lonely. I was pretty much told to not feel anything at all. ... But I think I was, somewhere deep down."

[magicurls]

"That's horrible. No one should be told that...it's really hard, to deny yourself."

She frowns, imagining how that would feel. Or not feel, she supposes, was the point.

"Not anymore. It can be pretty tough to be lonely here."

[bakegarasu]

"I don't remember it being hard, but I was told to do it for so long that... that makes sense." It's hard to remember a time when he felt emotional before meeting Reiji. ... Any emotion besides anger.

He's... not really coming up with much.

"Yeah. People seemed to attach themselves to me right away. Which is... pretty funny, all things considered."

[magicurls]

"You're not used to being a people person?"

Mami can...sort of relate. She desperately wants to be a people person! It's just kind of weird and comes off as tryhard when you're used to being lonely.

[bakegarasu]

"Not at all. I don't really talk to people that much... at home. I'm just... used to being the bodyguard in the corner. Not part of the party."

[magicurls]

"Well. You're always welcome here," Mami promises. "Next time I have a quiet tea, would you like some?"

[bakegarasu]

Quiet tea? Huh.

"... That'd... be nice. I'd like that." A place where he doesn't have to worry about making small talk...