eachdraidh | [video] Open to both courts.

[When the locket turns on, it shows Lumina perched on the edge of her bed in her quarters, with a large, unpleasant looking dog thing dozing behind her. Just because the shadow beast things seemed to have calmed down doesn't mean she trusts them in the least, after all. She's bullied one of the castle imps into holding up the locket while she addresses it, and it dips or swings from time to time as the little creature gets restless.]

[She just watches the locket for a minute, as if trying to decide what to say before she just smiles and lifts a pale hand to give it a wave.] Hey everybody, I'm Lumina.

I figured I should probably say hello on these, since everyone else seems to love doing it. [Her hands settle on her knees, and her smile turns into more of a grin as she starts to get into the swing of talking.]

I mean, I was going to earlier but then those shadow things decided to eat everything that wasn't tied down. That was fun, wasn't it? I never thought I'd miss the monsters back home, but...man.

At least they were everywhere, right? Attacking everyone? No choosing sides, no fighting in a war we don't really understand, just crazy monsters for everyone to team up and slay! Or...make their dogs slay them. [She reaches back to give the beast behind her a scratch on the neck, and it makes an deep, unpleasant, but vaguely happy growl sound.]

It won't always be like that though, huh. [The kid trails off for a moment, shaking her head.] I mean, it won't always be so black and white. That's why we're here, right? Get recruited, join the army, go kill some total strangers who got recruited for the other guy's team. It's all a bit...mm. Ridiculous, huh?

But from what I'm seeing, everybody's getting into it! I just got here, but this war's obviously been going on for ages and ages, and everyone who shows up picks up their sword or magic or something and runs off to kill the other guy.

[She leans forward, reaching out to pluck the locket from the grip of the imp and bring it closer.]

Which has me really curious. Why is everyone going to get involved? I mean, we're all told what the stakes are, but they could be lying. Everybody lies, no matter how bright and shining their armor is. [She giggles softly, covering her hand with her mouth.]I mean, those people always seem to lie the most, from what I've seen...

So! What's your...mm...motivation? What were you told, if that helps? Are you taking our glorious new leaders at their word? And if you're trying to stay out of it all, how come?

[With her question asked, she waves again, smiling cheerfully, and closes the locket with a click.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Nah. But I know about them.

[She scratches the animal again and it goes back to sleep.]

They're probably not coming back at this point though, huh? The shadow things.

They took a pretty good beating, so I don't think they'll be coming back anytime soon. But I think you should give him a name and keep him around. He might come in handy.

Mm. It's not that simple. When I stop thinking about him, he'll disappear!

And the next one won't be the same one. [She turns to peer at the creature again, her voice quieter.]

At least...I don't think they're the same one.

Disappears? Like, he runs away?

[Steve's brow furrows, because she can't possibly mean that something that size just vanishes into thin air.

As if anything around here should surprise him anymore.]

No, it's...[She knew people here came from worlds without magic, as bizarre as that was to her. So how to explain. For a moment, her smile is sad, and then she shrugs.]

Here, watch.

[She reaches out to scratch the dog again, and it looks up at her searchingly as she gives it a little wave. And then she taps in the nose, and suddenly there's a shimmering swirl of crystalline light and the creature just...fades into it, until Lumina is the only thing on the bed. She turns back to the camera.]

See?

[He's seen a strange thing or two since his days back in Brooklyn, knows that one man's magic can be another man's weapon. But a look of surprise still crosses his face.]

Any idea where it went?

Back on pulse, they'd go back into the chaos. But...here? There isn't any chaos.

So no idea. I'm just glad they show at all, huh? It'd be preeeeetty awkward if I called for help and nobody turned up.

I don't know, I think there's plenty of potential for chaos here.

[But he's also pretty sure that's not the sort of "chaos" she's talking about.]

So that one goes away, and you call for help again. A different one just shows up?

I think? I mean...you know, they all look the same and they can't exactly talk. But if I send him away injured, the one that comes back is fine, so...

Different?

That's some trick.

[Steve nods, visibly impressed.]

Where'd you learn it?

[Lumina's smile turns coy.]

A girl has to have some secrets, you know.

[Steve smiles a little before holding up his hands in mock surrender.]

You're right. I don't know what I was thinking.

[She just laughs softly.]

So what about you? Any magical powers?

Nothing like that.

[Just a kid from Brooklyn. Yep.]

I was in the army. That was sort of magical.

No army I've ever heard of was 'magical.'

I was in a special program. I used to be a lot smaller, probably not much bigger than you.

Jeepers.

What'd they do to you?

They gave me something that made me taller.

[And stronger and faster and just about everything else.]

Oh, and a really cool shield.

[video] Open to both courts.

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