spinatalltale | [WEEK 4, SATURDAY POST-TRIAL: Lucina]

I had my reasons, Magilou.

[ Chiefly, her.

Lucina doesn't look that worried, although the usual gravity to her expression remains. This isn't something she takes lightly. ]

I know they won't kill me. Whatever they mete out, I can handle it.

Um, yeah, they won't kill you! But need I remind you that you're already missing an arm??

[usually Magilou doesn't do lectures when people make reckless decisions, but. . . this one just. bewildered her completely]

If I had voted for Jacopo or Laphicet, I would have been complicit in something that will cause you pain.

[ fuck this game ]

If I had voted for Serph, then perhaps Bellamy would have been at risk.

[ fuck. this. game. ]

I couldn't abide either of those choices. I did what I felt was right.

[. . . that--]

[that renders her uncharacteristically speechless]

Lucina. . .

[. . .]

[hmph]

. . . the kiddo made his choice when he decided to take someone's life.

He saw this potential outcome, and decided it was worth the risk. I can't be upset that he got caught.

[ ... Hearing that, Lucina goes - a little pale, a little too still. ]

He was guilty?

Two out of the three names given to us were guilty. Jacopo was innocent.

[so. . .]

[yeah]

I always knew the kid was going to kill. It was just a matter of when.

[ Even knowing all of that, she still doesn't regret her choice. Whatever happens tomorrow will happen, there's no point regretting what is done, and done by her own will.

For Magilou, though - Lucina looks sorrowful. ]

I'm sorry.

Hey, don't be. I couldn't control the kid's actions, yeah?

[she offers a sort of sharp smile. it doesn't really reach her eyes, though. . . and there's something very empty about it]

It is what it is.

...

[ It is what it is.

She'll be thinking those words a lot, over the next two days. ]

I only wish it had amounted to more.

[. . . yeah. won't they all, especially after that huge post-trial mess]

By next week, there will only be 17 of us left.

[she's done the math already. Alistair, Shinjiro, Kyouko, Erhard, Jacopo, Laphicet, Neku, Serph]

. . . hm. I'm beginning to wonder. . . if we truly will play this game until there is only one person left standing.

[ Alistair, Shinjiro, Kyouko, Erhard, Jacopo, Laphicet, Neku, Serph...

And Bellamy. Ten, possibly, but that last name is by and far the most important.

Impulsively, Lucina finds herself reaching for Magilou's hand. ]

That will not get the result that I know we all want.

[ ... ]

Edited 2017-09-03 04:43 (UTC)

[she flinches a bit at the touch, not because she doesn't want it, but because physical affection is still so new. but with Lucina. . . it's easier. especially after her partner's excursion into the jungle]

[but after the knee jerk reaction, she finds herself curling her fingers around Lucina's, holding them loosely. it's fine. this is fine.]

. . . does anyone really know how to get the result we all want, though?

Come. Let's go inside.

[ To their hut, where they can talk undisturbed. ]

[gives Lucina a sort of curious look, but. . . she slips into the hut after her, without complaint or further commentary. her heads a bit too foggy for her usual jokes, anyway]

[ Taking a seat on her own cot, Lucina looks ... uncommonly tired. There's typically a layer of wear to her, a weariness from battle that has left some crags in her young skin. This is somewhat else altogether, making her skin look transparent, her eyes downcast.

Briefly, her head bows. ]

... Can I trust you, Magilou?

[Magilou flops haphazardly onto her own cot, but her eyes are trained on Lucina, brows furrowed]

. . . well, that's always a question I hate answering for other people, since opinions tend to vary.

[ha ha. . .]

But I don't go blabbing people's secrets. Especially not those of my beautiful and alluring partner!

[ A deep breath.

Lucina knows if she thinks about what she wants to say for one single second longer, cool and rational mistrust will reassert herself, and she'll talk herself out of it.

So. This, then. ]

I am the other Wickie.

[. . .!]

[

]

[. . . LUCINA SHE JUST SPENT LIKE HALF THE TRIAL ARGUING A THEORY ABOUT HOW THE OTHER WICKIE COULDN'T BE TRUSTED!!]

[AND YOU LET HER DO THIS]

Lucina. . .!

. . . just so you know, if I had known it was you at the trial, I wouldn't have argued that the remaining Wickie was untrustworthy!

You've gotta believe me! I trust yoooooooou!

[ Honestly, that was the least of her concerns.

Lucina shakes her head. ]

I was never worried over your faith in me. Disparaging comments are ... simply that.

[ What does she care of attacks on her character when she had to execute her own partner? ]

Don't fret.

. . . well.

[at least she drops the dramatics pretty quickly. this is serious!!]

There's actually a reason I brought that theory up at the trial, though now that I know it's you. . . I don't think any of my theories are correct anymore.

[. . . she'll get to those reasons, eventually. but right now? the most important question on her mind has to be taken care of first]

Lucina. . . you know every single way to end this game, for better or worse, right?

[ There's no hesitation. Only a single word, like a stone dropping into a still pond -- ]

Yes.

[a shuddering breath. the next question follows easily, and her eyes never leave her partner's]

. . . what are they?

Before I tell you, I would like you to promise me something.

[ Well, that's...

Alarming. ]

[it is. but nevertheless, Magilou nods, firm and determined]

Lay it on me.

Should something happen to myself or - [ no, she thinks here, her mouth becoming more dry on the other than on her, ] - or Bellamy, who has served as my ally these weeks past, I want you to finish what we started.

[ She needs every assurance, every contingency. She does not know if Bellamy will survive tomorrow, after what happened to his partner - to Serph - and if the worse should come to pass, she will be alone again. That will be fine; she isn't looking to replace him, at this point. He had stepped in after the game had called upon her to kill her own partner, but she isn't sure her heart can bear a third.

That's for herself, though.

The game needs to end. If she isn't around to do it, then someone else will have to. ]

I will tell you everything you need to know, if you agree.

[trust is a very difficult thing to come by, especially for someone like Magilou, who keeps herself at a distance. who purposefully paints herself as shady, as suspicious, as someone to not take seriously. but these past four weeks on this island, this slowly building trust that Magilou has found herself fostering with others. . . well]

[she thinks it isn't so bad, to be considered reliable]

I will.

[this is the most earnest she has ever aounded]

And that's a promise.

Edited 2017-09-03 14:40 (UTC)

The Sirens believe that this island is the seat of a volcanic spirit, and that enough death will appease it. That is why they are killing: to get the island's population down to seven. However, they were deceived. If they succeed in their goals, we will never be allowed to leave.

[ And that... that is truly dire. Lucina wants to go home as much as everyone else, even if she has no certainty of where home is anymore, or how to find it.

More over, she wants to save everyone, to grant every wish.

The burden of these past weeks has not sat well on her. This is the first time she's allowed Magilou to see it. In truth, it had been nice to pretend - although she's glad not to have to do so anymore. ]

The first way to end this game is to eliminate the Sirens. I know the identity of those remaining.

The second way... is far more dire. [ :( ] I do not wish to pursue if I don't have to.

. . . so. They were lied to. Whatever Chief gave them their instruction. . . they're the one who lies.

[that had honestly been her theory ever since they outed both Jack and Battler as opposing roles, so hearing Lucina confirm that is somewhat comforting. though that. . . does make things more complicated for Magilou, who had thrown her lot in with the Sirens last week. who believed in them, and their wish to save those on this island]

Will eliminating the Sirens send everyone home? And. . .

What is the more dire method?

Yes. I was able to determine the identity of the one who lies and the one who may only speak the truth.

[ And, no - she's not going to share that.

As for the other second and third questions... ]

Yes. If I am able to remove the remaining two Sirens from this arena of the game, then it will end in the way we want. [ Which is an interesting sidestep of an answer to will it send everyone home but there's a reason for that. ]

The more dire method involves a permanent death from one of our own.

[ SHE DOESN'T WANT TO DO IT

just let her kill the godsdamn sirens pls ]

[she won't ask for the identity of the lying Chief versus the truth telling one, but she does get caught up in the phrasing of that answer]

"The way we want." [. . .] Can you reassure me that "the way we want the game to end" is best for everyone? There's a Siren out there who is worried about your intentions. That is why I brought up the Wickie at trial.

[and, another question--]

A permanent sacrifice to revive those lost, then?

[ Firmly, Lucina will repeat the exact words offered to her, with utter sincerity. ]

It is best for everyone.

[ Second question -- ]

In a manner of speaking. Truth be told, I don't know if I can achieve that on my own. Perhaps if Jack was still with me, but ... [ you dumb fuckers voted him to die!! ]

It isn't my preference.

[ Because that person won't get to go home with them, won't be in the graveyard - not that she knows such a thing exists - and won't be anymore.

It's too cruel. ]

[she takes the answer without question]

. . . oho. I suppose I should apologize for being part of the reason your partner is dead.

[she may feel a little bad about that now?? yikes]

Can-- you tell me why he had to kill Mello?

Edited 2017-09-03 15:59 (UTC)

[ At that, Lucina shakes her head. ]

I am sorry.

Jack's secrets are his own.

No. That's fair.

[. . .]

I-- am sorry.

[the apology is. . . a bit forced? not because she doesn't want to give it, but because it is literally the first one she's offered on this island. that makes it all the more sincere]

I'm no Jack, but if I can be of any help, especially if we wind up going down the most dire path-- [well. anyway. next question!]

When the Chiefs answered our question about going home at the trial. Do you know what their cryptic response meant?

[ ... A sigh. ]

Yes, I do.

[ And, if the silence than hangs after those words is any indication, Lucina is not about to elaborate.

... ]

. . . sheesh. I thought Jack was being cagey because he was suspicious. But I believe you're cagey for a reason.

[that's about all she plans on prying, honestly]

This week, then. Do you plan on killing the final two Sirens?

[that's likely her last question before she starts telling her own story]

Edited 2017-09-03 16:14 (UTC)

It ...

[ There's Bellamy, who has been begging her to find a better path, who almost stood in the way of her intentions when it involved him, his own heart.

There's her own uncertainty, her strengths and weaknesses, that she's good at striking down foes and not much else.

Well, dissembling, apparently.

It takes her a moment to get words together. ]

I am still weighing the options going forward. Likely, yes.

[ It isn't absolute. ]

[ah. . . that hesitation is clear. and Magilou isn't the type to push her towards one direction or another. but she will offer her own advice]

Whatever you choose to do, Lucina, do it with a strong heart and faith in your path. Don't hold back-- not even a little bit.

[. . .]

I know one of the remaining Sirens. I found out last week, and I've extended an offer to help them. I even gave them Pal's autograph so they could determine which Chief wrote their rules, in an attempt to figure out if they've been lied to or not.

[. . .]

They want to pursue another path. They want to confront the volcano spirit directly. Though, if they've been lied to, is there even a volcano spirit at all?

Edited 2017-09-03 16:24 (UTC)

[ RAPTOR NOISES

IN HER SOUL

auuuuugh ]

No, there was never a volcano spirit. Do you know what the Siren intended?

[WOW]

[. . . she almost feels bad for how badly the Sirens have been played during this entire game]

No. Our mutual contact didn't give me the details of their plan.

I won't press, in that case.

[ For the moment.

Lucina seems to tire a bit, slumping a little into her bed. ]

Thank you for sharing that with me, Magilou. Is there anything else you wish to know?

[there is one other thing, actually]

How did you figure out which Chief was the liar? Was I right? About the answer to that lying in their handwriting?

[WEEK 4, SATURDAY POST-TRIAL: Lucina]

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1/2

2/3 i lied

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1/??? I DON'T EVEN

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DONE

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