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

Yeah, but there's a difference between being adaptable and being in a war. You've done this before?

What, picked sides in a war?

Nah. Close, though.

What's considered close if it's not the same thing?

Picking sides between God and his Savior.

[She giggles as though this is the funniest thing in the world.]

[...Lumina what.]

Think you're gonna have to explain that one to me. What Savior? [And what god is the other question, but he assumes one will answer the other.]

Well, the world is going to end, right? So God decided he'd save a few souls to stick in his new one...only a few, of course...and he sent his chosen savior to pick and choose.

[She smirks.]

It's not gonna work out like he thinks, though.

And what makes this savior guy so special that he was given that task? [It's a tone of disbelief at best, but call him curious. Or nosy, whichever.]

Well, first, because she has killed gods in the past, helped save the world twice, lived for a thousand years...she's pretty special. [Not that Lumina would say that to her, of course.]

Also, she's my sister so...well, she's just better than everybody else. [A little giggle.]

[He was only partially paying attention to what Lumina was saying to be honest, but as soon as the word "sister" turns up he's suddenly much more focused.]

Your sister. Well, guess I don't have to ask you what side you're on. [Though he's assuming. Granted, he wouldn't always choose his sister's side, but most people...whatever. He knows he shouldn't ask, but--] If she's busy doing that what are you doing instead?

[Lumina's expression is both innocent and yet somehow sly.]

Oh you know. Helping.

[Don't think he doesn't recognize that look, Lumina. He has that similar look sometimes himself, but he's ignoring it.]

She's not here, is she?

...Nah. Far as I can tell, no one else from Gran Pulse is here but me.

Is Gran Pulse a world, or a city? [The more important question here is "are you happier this way or not?"]

It was a world. A massive world.

All that's left is a couple cities and a few thousand desperate people.

...what exactly happened to wipe out most of a whole world? [Because there has to be a real, logical explanation for something like that. Something not about gods and saviors.]

The chaos swallowed everything up!

[Said with an odd giggle in her voice...]

[...either Lumina's got a great imagination, or she's seriously the creepiest 12 year old ever. He's not sure which option he's more comfortable with.]

Guess you're better off here then. I think I can guess why they brought you here at least.

Let me know if anybody gives you a really interesting answer. You've got me curious.

Oh yeah, much better off here. There was maybe a week before the world was going to end back home.

[She sighs.]

Everyone's answer is boring.

Then how about an interesting question. What are you going to do if your world actually ends before you can get back?

[Lumina frowns as if that's a stupid question.]

...Stay here?

But we're not here permanently. [And the tone matches her look like that was a stupid answer.] They can't keep us here forever.

Weeeeeell...maybe not.

But they can't force us to leave either, huh?

Probably depends if they think we're useful or not. Which sort of comes back to the main point of why people are getting involved. Nobody really has the answers.

Well, I'm always useful. [Lumina giggles.]

I don't think they'd make us leave if we were going to go back and die, though.

Hope you're right. [Because he's still not too sure, personally.]

Anyway. Have fun with all of these answers. You've got a lot of people to choose from.

[video] Open to both courts.

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