[WEEK 2, THURSDAY EVENING: Lief]

[spinatalltale]

[it's still fairly early in the evening, not too long after the visions and hallucinations being. should Lief be hanging around the hut area, he'll find. . . well]

[one (1) Magilou, sitting in front of the Magilou-Lucina hut, her legs drawn up to her torso and her head pressed against her knees]

[huh]

[INVESTIGATE, Y/N?]

Comments

[reidentify]

... And you were affected by it—whether at one point or at several.

[spinatalltale]

[. . . those whispers. she hears them again, tickling her ear. my greatest failure]

[she stopped caring about his approval and disapproval a long time ago. so it's a bit irritating that these hallucinations are focusing so much on that aspect of things]

Long, boring story! But to cut it short, there was a point where I found myself protecting a certain entrance so illusion guy wouldn't close it and trap my traveling companions inside.

[that's. vague. but she can't succinctly explain the earthpulse to Lief and the importance of keeping the entrance to same open, sooo]

He tried to grind my heart to dust with the power of illusions to get me to relent.

[reidentify]

[He pauses.]

Do you even know what kind of face you made when I approached you?

[spinatalltale]

Hmph. I have a guess, but I get the feeling you're just going to tell me.

[she knows]

[reidentify]

It was the sort of look that said whatever experiences you have with illusions, they were not "boring" to you.

[spinatalltale]

[uuuugh]

No. They're pretty boring. There's only so many times a girl can deal with the same old trick before she gets suuuper tired of it.

[reidentify]

You make a different sort of expression when you are merely exasperated with something, Magilou.

[spinatalltale]

Do I? I haven't noticed! Maybe you can demonstrate for me?

[reidentify]

You are deflecting.

[spinatalltale]

Yeah, and I'm pretty good at it, huh?

[no]

[reidentify]

[no]

What kinds of illusions did you see?

[spinatalltale]

[ugh he isn't going to give up, is he?]

. . .

Nnngh. . .

[she lifts a hand to her head, palm pressed against her temple, as flashes of illusory pain sears through her skin. my greatest failure.]

[she closes her eyes, mouth quirking upward, but the smile is wry this time]

An old "friend."

[reidentify]

... Who hurt you.

[spinatalltale]

[lllightly, but her words are slightly slurred as the pain slowly intensifies]

I suppose I was in his way. . .

[reidentify]

[Firmly,]

That is never an excuse for cruelty.

[spinatalltale]

. . . does it count as cruelty, if you're trying to rid yourself of an enemy?

[she asks, tone even. emotionless]

[reidentify]

Yes. You did not deserve that, Magilou.

[spinatalltale]

You don't even. . . know. . .

[uuugh her head is starting to pound again. she grimmaces, leaning forward to press her face in both hands, shoulders slumped]

[reidentify]

—Magilou!?

[He steps forward, reaching out towards her, before he stops himself—the gesture might not be appreciated, especially depending on her mental state at the moment.]

[spinatalltale]

[it's good he stopped himself-- any contact might've resulted in her swatting his hands away, or jerking back to avoid him]

Shhhhhut uuuuuup. . .

[if it was just a headache, it wouldn't be so bad. but it isn't. it's a headache, and an old man-- an old mentor, an old father-- standing over her, reminding her that she was and always will be a disappointment]

I don't caaaare anymore, why does this place think I neeeeed a lecture from an old, dead ghooooost. . .

[she drawls out each word slowly, but at least she sounds more annoyed than panicked]

[reidentify]

[...]

Would you like to talk? To try and drown out whatever it is you hear.

[spinatalltale]

N-- no.

[her fingers dig deeply into her temples]

This is my. . . fight. I can ttttake it.

[reidentify]

... All right. I believe in you.

[spinatalltale]

Illusions don't-- hold any power over me anymore, anyway.

[her words are strained, forced through gritted teeth and a set jaw]

You can't really. . . break someone who has already been broken.

[reidentify]

[Pieces are clicking.]

And that is how you protect yourself?