[WEEK 2, THURSDAY NIGHT: Lucina]

[spinatalltale]

[for all of Magilou's posturing and joking around throughout the week, when Thursday night rolls around, she's suddenly far more subdued. Lucina will notice that she's the one sitting near the hut window, staring outside with a blank expression on her features. her journal is open in her lap, turned to a blank page, as her quill hangs loosely from her fingers]

And the fateful night arrives, quietly and without fanfare. . .

Comments

[spinatalltale]

[she lets out a laugh, mouth curling into a smile, but it's one of the sharp ones that doesn't quite reach her eyes or light up her expression]

Probably for the best. You wouldn't want anyone sneaking in and whisking you out of your bed in the middle of the night.

[Yeah, Magilou's not sleeping, either]

[rightfully]

I doubt anyone here wishes for that.

[ Of course, she notices the subtle changes in Magilou as well. It squeezes at her too-sentimental heart, prompting her to ask, gently -- ]

Are you frightened?

[spinatalltale]

No.

[twirls her quill around her fingers]

It takes very little to frighten a terrifying witch such as myself.

[it takes the ability to feel fear, too]

[rightfully]

[ It isn't like she's never heard projecting before, and part of her wants to probe deeper. There are a few things that Magilou has said that imply more depth than she wants to display, a few comments that - if taken as truth, and not more playacting - are deeply alarming.

Although a bit tired, Lucina drags herself to a sitting position. It isn't difficult. She's had a lot of practice doing without rest. ]

I am not sure I envy you. Fear is necessary sometimes.

[spinatalltale]

[So is love, and hate. Hope, and despair. Happiness and sadness. Thinks I haven't felt for years, that I still am not sure I'm capable of feeling now]

[those words stay right where they belong: in her mind]

Oho, is it? I find things much more preferable this way. Why. . . are you a bit afraid yourself, Lucy?

[sudden?? nickname???]

[rightfully]

[ That sudden nickname, as it is so called, gives her a slight pang. Lucina ends up prioritising that over answering the question. (It's princess privilege. Implicitly, she's pulling rank.) ]

I would rather you call me Lucina. My name is not Lucy.

[ Being Cynthia and Owain's nickname for her, she isn't sure she can stomach hearing it from Magilou. ]

[spinatalltale]

[. . . and Magilou-- being herself-- turns away from the window to face her]

Aaaw, what's wrong with it? Lucy! It's kind of cute. And, as roommates and partners, I think it's important we come up with nicknames for each other!

[rightfully]

I'm sorry, but I do not agree. I must insist that you stop.

[ Having her request disregarded so cavalierly isn't helping. Lucina's frown borders on severe.

She hadn't wanted to think of her family, here. ]

[spinatalltale]

Uho, that frown! So sharp!

[in the end, she is still herself. it takes way more than someone frowning at her severely to get through to her]

If you let me call you Lucy, I'll let you call me Magi. Even though it's the worst nickname anyone could ever come up with for me.

[rightfully]

I have no interest in calling you anything but your proper name. I hope you will show me the same courtesy.

[ She's calm enough in tone right now, but --

Countdown to yelling in 3... 2... ]

[spinatalltale]

[sometimes that's what it takes to get through to her tbh]

Aaaaw, Lucy! But aren't we supposed to be bonding? We're partners in crime!

[rightfully]

[ A muscle in her cheek twitches, and her voice cracks like a whip, ]

—enough!

[ Later, she'll feel bad for yelling. As it is, all she can see is someone who has been, more often than not, a trial to her insisting on the same familiarity as her flesh and blood, and refusing to accept no for an answer.

It is unwelcome, as the frustrated electricity hanging in the air makes all too clear. ]

1/2

[spinatalltale]

[it's enough to get her to jump in surprise, the book almost falling out of her lap. Lucina had always been a calm personality, a bit silly but very serious and levelheaded, so seeing that kind of explosion from her is. . .]

[. . .]

[spinatalltale]

[she turns away and twirls the quill between her fingers, attention returning to the window]

. . . does the name "Lucy" hold some sort of special significance to you?

[good, or bad]

[rightfully]

[ A pause, albeit somewhat strangled. ]

No. -- That is, yes. I suppose.

[ And then, more regretfully: ]

I'm sorry. I shouldn't have raised my voice at you.

[spinatalltale]

Oh, don't mind it. If I couldn't handle someone yelling at me every now and then, then I'd be a fairly weak-willed person.

[handwave, handwave!]

So. . . who calls you by that name?

[rightfully]

[ She sighs. There's no reason not to open about this, other than that Lucina values her privacy.

At least Magilou finally understands. ]

My family. That is, my sister and my cousin.

[spinatalltale]

[. . . aha]

[she wonders, briefly, what it's like to have a family. not that she cares that she doesn't have one-- her group of traveling companions back home was enough for her. but for some reason, being on this island makes her think about this stuff far more than she did back home]

[she keeps her tone light, as she does!]

Uho, your bond with them must be stronger than the moon's pull against the tide, if you let them call you by such a cute name!

[rightfully]

[ If Magilou wants to know, all she has to do is ask.

For the time being, Lucina looks suitably wistful as she looks away. It's hardly the politest thing to do under the circumstances, but she's thinking less about that now. ]

My younger sister - Cynthia - is very spirited, and hard to say no to. It's the look she gives you. I would not deny her something that made her happy, like an affectionate nickname.

[ ... she misses her. ]

[spinatalltale]

[she might. give her some time. let her mull over it for a bit]

Some people just have those cute li'l eyes you can't say no to.

Do you miss her?

[rightfully]

I do, yes.

[ But, not wanting to dwell on that, Lucina moves on quickly. ]

Owain is the son of my father's youngest sister. He's quite a character.

[ ... Oddly, a smile. ]

His penchant for dramatics may rival yours.

[spinatalltale]

[she gasps, hands pressed against her cheeks]

Whaaaat? No way! There's no one out there in the known universe who can defeat The Great Magilou when it comes to dramatics!

[rightfully]

[ Privately, Lucina is thinking she's quite like to see a competition for Most Theatrical between the two of them. ]

It's not the known universe, if you've never heard of the land I come from.

[spinatalltale]

[TOUCHE. . .]

Ain't that the truth. But it totally counts as the "known" universe now that I'm aware of its existence!!

[rightfully]

[ A peaceable smile. She'll go along with that, sure. ]

As you say.

And what of your family, Magilou? I imagine they are quite spirited, if you're any indication.

[spinatalltale]

[her response is bored and super dismissive]

Eh. I don't have a family. I'm a free woman, who travels the world unbound by such worldly connections!

[rightfully]

[ And, by contrast, Lucina's expression is painfully sympathetic.

It's gross. ]

... Oh. I'm sorry, I didn't realise.

[spinatalltale]

[. . . IT IS GROSS!! her mouth twitches, threatening to turn downward into a frown]

Come oooon, don't look so sad for me. That implies that this fact actually upsets me!

[it doesn't. maybe once upon a time it did, but no more. it's simply how things are for her-- and besides, back home? she's found something much better than a family]

[rightfully]

[ Lucina just smiles - oh so innocently - at Magilou. ]

Oh yes, of course. That was my mistake.

[spinatalltale]

[Lucina is quickly learning how to deal with the Mags]

Besides! I have something even better than a family.

Employees in my Menagerie.

[how is that better than a family??]