spellminders | voice; ota

Entry tags:

voice; ota

[suddenly, a voice!]

Hello! I hope everyone's doing all right now that we're back here on the island.

Um. Sorry if this is a weird question, but ... if you're an experienced fighter, what sort of training do you do that helps you out the most? The sort of thing that maybe a beginner could pick up on easily?

[beginner isn't really the right word for Madoka. but with her usual abilities out of reach, floating along with wherever the high frequency is, and with only a bow that's older than she is to use as a weapon, she's not that many steps ahead of one. does that make her a novice? first class? junior hero?]

It couldn't hurt to have that information out there, anyway. For the people who didn't do any fighting back home.

— Oh! If we haven't met before, I'm Madoka Kaname. If you ever need healing or first aid, please come see me, okay? I'm usually at the beach or the base camp.

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[Dirk waits a little while, not wanting to push while she's dealing with it. Then, his voice comes across quietly. Non-intrusive, he would hope.]

How are you doing settling back in?

[he doesn't need to worry; she is always delighted to hear from him.]

It's ... not very comfortable, but it's not so bad! I've been getting by. [she made shoddy, but serviceable arrows. they were tied together with hair ribbons. she shot a fish with one.]

[Madoka likes to think Dirk would be proud.]

What about you? I have some snacks that I brought back from Aimintas, if you'd like some?

I'm good. What are you having trouble with?

[His whole mind just narrows in on that, making the idea of taking any snacks impossible. Is Madoka ok. What is happening. Tell Him.]

[oh, whoops, she hadn't meant to worry him. but she's not going to brush off his question, either.]

It's nothing big, I promise! I have this bow I've been trying to fix ... and, I thought it might be helpful to learn about how other people defend themselves. Just looking ahead, I guess?

[and, tentatively:] I really don't mind sharing. I have some chips I can bring you.

[Okay, that's okay then.]

Not a bad idea.

Like, potato chips?

[The lure of junkfood, food he grew up on.]

Yes! ... I think? Some of the flavors seem a little strange, but I'm pretty sure I have a bag of normal potato chips, too. Would you like those?

You sure about sharing them? [Of course she is, he knows that, but it's still so weird to accept it.] Those might be a pretty scarce resource. We're talking gold territory.

I'm positive — I know they'll be going to a good home.

[that is as dry of a joke as Madoka can manage. it's still somehow laced with sincerity.]

I don't know if that's the first phrase I'd think of for my stomach. Where are you right now?

I'm at my hut! I'll see you in a few minutes, then?

Yeah, I'll be right there.

[And he will even knock, like a gentleman.]

[wow, someone taught Dirk manners? but she opens the door, armed with not one, but two bags of chips, and a notebook, for some reason.]

There you are! Turns out I had two bags of the regular chips. [yes, Madoka is going to offer them both. and, she doesn't have the luxury of hiding behind a pair of shades, so maybe the once-over she gives him is more obvious than she'd like — he hasn't been fighting any boars, has he? she wouldn't hesitate to heal him.]

[Dirk takes exactly one. And no, he isn't injured, but she better not be either!]

Cool, so there's one for each of us.

[You can't shove all the chips on him!! Assuming Madoka isn't horrifically injured, his eyes focus on the notebook.]

Writing?

[no, she's fine! this ... may just be a thing that happens every time they cross paths. she can't help it, she worries about him.]

[as for the food ... Jake had told her his battle tactics included waiting for an opening, and maybe even being a little underhanded when necessary. Madoka can do that — and it'll ultimately mean that Dirk isn't leaving without this second bag of chips.]

Drawing, actually! I was thinking of maybe going somewhere more open to work on it ... want to come?

[His own efforts to train Jake will come back to haunt him.]

I didn't know you draw.

[But, despite him being the monotone child, he's definitely interested in the possibility of art times.]

I'd love to.

Well, I like to draw! But, I wouldn't say I'm good at it or anything.

[she's just ... gonna run back inside and grab an extra pen and notebook, then, so he can draw, too, if he wants? much like she has no shortage of things to snack on, Madoka has no shortage of things to draw on.]

[the beach is one of her favorite spots on this island — so she'll lead the way there.]

I take it that means you enjoy it, too, though.

[You have been asked about a HOBBY.

> Give a pretentious and sesquipedalian answer that would make any INTRODUCTION PAGE proud
> Don't]

Yeah. I used to draw some in my spare time, which was basically all of my time.

[He will accept the extra pen and notebook!]

[an excellent choice my dude.]

[there's something about those words that makes her feel awfully sad, and maybe there's a glint of it somewhere in her eyes — Madoka just hopes she's hiding it well, as hard as she's trying to.]

Really? What sort of things do you like to draw?

["You're cool with dabbling in the FINE SEQUENTIAL ARTS, and your work could be viewed by some as BORDERLINE PORNOGRAPHIC. And to those philistines you'll be heard wondering, what the fuck do you mean BORDERLINE?"

...]

A pretty wide variety. Animation, sometimes, when I decide to really get into it. What about you?

Oh — nothing nearly as cool as the stuff you draw, it sounds like! [Madoka, no.]

I usually draw my friends, and I like to design clothes sometimes ... I also really like drawing plants or landscapes.

[they're at a suitable spot on the beach, now, so she settles down and flips her notebook open to a new page.]

I've never known anybody who could animate, though ... that's really incredible.

[Dirk sits beside her, at an angle—he can comfortable look over to see her work, but give her space, too.]

It's mostly a matter of frames. [Dirk doesn't really overestimate the value of anything he does, particularly not these days. (god, i bet he's animated bouncing smuppets.)] I'd be interested in seeing some of your drawings if you want to share.

I don't mind! I'd like to see some of your artwork, too — if that's okay.

[of course, that means Madoka will have to draw something new. this is an empty notebook, after all. she tilts her head thoughtfully.]

Would it be okay if I drew you?

Yeah, no problem.

[He'll just not draw porn.

Oh. A pause.]

If you wanted, sure. There aren't any pictures of me placed in an attic that I don't want anyone tipped off to.

[Madoka nods, and turns to face him, notebook at the ready! she's quiet for probably 20 minutes, biting her lip in concentration (maybe she should have brought a pencil instead of a pen), and glancing up at him every now and then.]

Your hair is a bit tricky ... that's okay, though!

[and, once she's satisfied — here you are, Dirk, a bonafide Madoka Kaname drawing. i'm so sorry.]

[Holy shit.]

I fucking love it.

[THE BOY GREW UP ON SBAHJ WHAT DO YOU EXPECT.

While they were talking, he was also drawing. He flips his notebook over, showing her his drawing: a very decent, realistic style sketch of Madoka.]

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