[WEEK 3, WEDNESDAY NIGHT: Lief

[spinatalltale]

[#maimquestweek3]

Soooooo.

How's your shoulder?

[at least she's waiting until evening, after Lief has had time to recover and after Lucina is asleep in order to approach him]

Comments

[reidentify]

[Filli's perched on his good shoulder (Lief made sure not to bring him), looking up with Lief at Magilou. Unsurprisingly, now that the commotion has died down, Lief's sitting down to rest.]

I do not imagine I will be using my arm soon, but provided that no one kills me first, it will likely heal with time.

[At least it isn't his dominant one?]

[spinatalltale]

[she plops onto the ground next to him, legs extended, elbows resting on her knees]

Here's to hoping that second one doesn't happen.

[a-aha]

. . . something more happened than just the cavern filling with water, right?

[reidentify]

[...]

To be frank, even I am not quite sure what happened.

[spinatalltale]

[???]

Can you start from the beginning?

[no beating around this bush]

[reidentify]

... As you might imagine, we had to swim at first. When we emerged at another location within the cavern, we were caught in a whirlpool. I was slammed against a rock—you can see the result of that.

[Aka his fractured shoulder.]

Then...

[... The next part's the complicated one.]

[spinatalltale]

[hm]

[she has nothing to say just yet, so instead she nods, indicating for him to continue, and stays silent]

[reidentify]

... Then we slid down a tunnel. [There's an odd note to his voice that suggests a story to that, but to address Magilou's likely foremost question—] When we reached the end, we found these injuries on ourselves.

The only wounds we can explain are my shoulder and Jacopo's foot. It is as if the rest simply—appeared.

[spinatalltale]

. . .

What?

[what?]

[what]

[what????????????]

[reidentify]

... Indeed. We certainly were not attacked, as far as I could tell, although... I do not think we were quite in our right minds either.

[spinatalltale]

[she's]

[really confused??]

So let me get this straight.

You went into the cavern.

Were washed away when it flooded.

Came to a new location.

Immediately slipped down a tunnel.

Were probably out of your mind when you did so.

And just. . . emerged with injuries you can't explain?

[. . .]

What?

[what the FUCK]

[reidentify]

... Well, the flooding was in fact the last part. Otherwise, that is about what happened, correct.

[spinatalltale]

. . .

Liiiief, you don't have to keep secrets from me. I wouldn't tell a soul!

[reidentify]

... But I am not keeping secrets from you?

[spinatalltale]

[squints at him]

Are you sure? Because I understand literally nothing about what you three did right now.

[reidentify]

[He lets out a breath.]

We swam through the pool of water and underneath a wall. When we emerged at the other side, we were caught in a whirlpool, which we eventually—no, I do not think "escaped" is the right word. [More like they got spat out.] At that point, we were at the entrance of the tunnel.

It then goes as I have said. [Well, with some skimming, since the process of going through the tunnel is... another explanation on its own.] At the end, Jacopo's foot was crushed underneath a rock. Prussia and I had to free him, as water flooded the cavern.

[She knows the rest.]

[spinatalltale]

Still nothing! Though I'm not surprised Popopo got himself into some mortal peril.

[Jacopo take better care of yourself for Laphicet's sake]

I suppose the tunnel is where everything starts to get a little. . . [weird] Tell me about it.

[reidentify]

... It was littered with gems. Reflected in them were... things of nightmares. Monsters, and ill memories of home.

[Instinctively, a shudder runs through him as he recalls.]

And though I am not unaccustomed to such sights, it was—I cannot explain it. It was as if fear had taken over me. Jacopo and Prussia as well, and you should realize that those two do not seem the sort to be easily frightened.

[So, like Lief said. They weren't exactly in their right minds.]

[spinatalltale]

[. . . aha. she thinks she's starting to see the pieces to this puzzle]

The things you saw reflected in those gems. . . were they the sorts of things that could have caused your injuries?

[the cuts and burns, she means]

[reidentify]

I do not particularly remember. It was quite a long trip, in any case—and thus quite a number of visions we saw.

[spinatalltale]

[and she just nods]

Oho. I think I'm beginning to understand the nature of this island. . . somewhat, anyway.

[reidentify]

And what would you say about it?

[spinatalltale]

This is the second instance of the island toying with our minds.

[last week's illusions. Lief and Prussia and Jacopo's adventure in the tunnel]

I wonder if it'll continue to be a pattern?

[reidentify]

... I dearly hope not, though my hope alone will hardly affect that.

[spinatalltale]

There are many things hope can affect, and many things it can't. This island's true nature is unfortunately one of the latter.

[a sigh]

[reidentify]

... I do not know what we can do, just yet. [Honestly, this entire trip was probably worthless. At least the jungle had something.] If only force of will alone was enough.

[spinatalltale]

Depends on how forceful that will actually is.

[heh. there's a wry note to her voice]

[reidentify]

[He smiles dryly.]

Careful, Magilou. That sort of thinking is what encourages attempts like these, and I imagine many on this island would be displeased if we made a repeat of today.

[spinatalltale]

[she grins, a sharp edge to her smile]

Personally, I don't really care very much if you try again. I might even give it a whirl myself, just so I can say I have.

[UNLIKE MOST, SHE IS NOT ANGRY]

Someone has to do the reckless stuff in order to unearth something useful.

[reidentify]

I thought you might not.

[Honestly? Lief knows he's going to get scolded a lot tonight, so it's nice to be able to talk to someone and not deal with judgment, even if just for now.]

Though unfortunately, I cannot say Jacopo, Prussia, and I achieved anything of note.

[spinatalltale]

[Magilou is no one's mom, she's the wine aunt, she doesn't do the scolding]

I wouldn't say that. You never know what kind of information will be important later on, hmm?

[reidentify]

I am hoping for that, but only time can tell. As of right now, we must look the most foolish out of everyone.

[spinatalltale]

You sure do. I won't deny that.

[ya'll are dumb]

But sometimes it's the foolish ones who manage to change the world.

[reidentify]

[...]

Sometimes, how you think is very reassuring, Magilou.

[It might be a weird thing to say, but...]

[spinatalltale]

[nah. it's not weird. she's strangely good at this being backwards reassuring, thing]

Hey, I only speak from personal experience.

[she shrugs lightly]

The bravest woman I knew was a complete an total moron, after all.

[reidentify]

... A friend of yours?

[spinatalltale]

On the contrary! She irritated me.

[that's a yes]

But I'm pretty sure I vexed her just as much, so we're even.

[reidentify]

[Yeah, that's definitely a yes.]

Then, one of your and Laphicet's companions.

[spinatalltale]

You could say she was the one who brought us together. With the sheer pull of her stupidity.

[a cheeky smile]

[reidentify]

Is that the sort of person you are drawn to, then?

[spinatalltale]

[. . . ugh. she hates to admit it, but]

Yeah, I guess so. People like her aren't boring!