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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

What makes you think that you aren't plenty help already?

[ah, there's a thorny issue. it's not that Madoka doesn't think she's been helping ... but after all they did on Aimintas, coming back to the island has felt a bit like she's tripped and lost her momentum. like she's lost her grip on an important part of how she sees herself — a magical girl — and is trying to compensate with more first aid knowledge and other means of combat.]

[she's limited to one spell a day. and then what? she doesn't want to lose hope — the idea that she isn't useless like how she's felt for most of her life.]

[of course, losing hope and using too much magic both have a dangerous end result.]

I ... don't really know? I guess what I have here just doesn't feel like enough.

I understand. The only real time I've had to use my own healing magic here is to fix an ankle I sprained. Impressive, right?

But... you don't always have to focus on being useful. You have plenty of other amazing qualities. Kind, caring, selfless... I've listed them all before, and nothing has changed. Don't you think those things count for something, too?

[that's not really something Madoka can argue, even if she wanted to.]

[so she laughs a little, quiet, surrendering.]

I do. I promise I'll take a break soon, okay?

... How did you sprain your ankle, though?

I'll believe you.

[ there's a laugh, sheepish. ]

We were exploring and I tripped over a tree root...

... Jude.

[it's an amused tone, not a scolding one.]

Did you at least find anything interesting while you were out there? To make getting that battle scar worth it.

Battle scar? I wouldn't go that far!

[ another laugh. he wishes madoka could recognize her own ability to be useful in just lifting people's spirits. ]

Not much besides forest and an abandoned house that we tidied up a bit. I had to be carried there before I could heal, though, so...

[there's no judgement here, Madoka's been carried by at least three different people already.]

I'm glad you weren't alone, then. [it was 9S with him, wasn't it?]

The house sounds like it could be useful, though! Was there anything interesting inside?

[ who else but 9s could carry jude through a rocky terrain and a forest without breaking a sweat? ]

It was pretty standard. A kitchen, a bed... but nice and roomy. I think 9S is planning on staying there with 2B, but even then there's probably room for more. It's not anywhere near as big as the mansion, though.

Ahh, that sounds a lot more comfortable than the huts! ... Though, I think I've finally got mine pretty cozy.

Oh yeah? How'd you fix it up? Mine is still kind of cramped.

Well, I have a sleeping bag, so that definitely makes the cot more comfy! [if Jude was ever wondering how she managed to carry so much junk food back from Aimintas, there's his answer. sleeping bag, shopping bag, same difference.]

And ... it's just filled with a bunch of different little things. Nice reminders of friends.

Clever thinking. I didn't think to bring much back besides a first aid kit and some other supplies.

See? You're far more useful than you think.

Ah —

[excellent work, Jude, you've flustered her into silence for at least a good minute.]

I mean — I was just using what I had available to me! And to be honest, I probably brought back more snacks than I should have ... I should have picked up more first aid supplies, too.

No talking your way out of it.

[ his voice isn't stern, still gentle, but chiding. ]

And besides, you know I'll share my first aid supplies with you if you need them.