voice; ota

[soulcomet]

[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.

Comments

[soulcomet]

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.]

[splinten]

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

[soulcomet]

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

[splinten]

Yeah, I'll be right there.

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

[soulcomet]

[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.]

[splinten]

[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?

[soulcomet]

[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?

[splinten]

[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.

[soulcomet]

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.

[splinten]

[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!]

[soulcomet]

[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?

[splinten]

["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?

[soulcomet]

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.

[splinten]

[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.

[soulcomet]

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?

[splinten]

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.

[soulcomet]

[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.]

[splinten]

[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.]

[soulcomet]

Really? [that honestly just made her day — Madoka was wondering for a minute there if she had gone overboard with the sharks.]

I — Ah! Dirk, your drawing is amazing! [SHE'S SO FLATTERED.]

[splinten]

The sharks are an epic touch.

[He loves the sharks.]

Like I said, I had a lot of free time.

[There's a pause, like he wants to say something. (Offer to help her learn.) And then he just... fixes up some shading in his drawing instead.

Yeah.]

[soulcomet]

[she couldn't begin to guess what he was thinking about saying, but that's all right — she'll fill in the silence, after a moment.]

Maybe, but ... I think you still needed a lot of talent to get to that level. [Madoka lists drawing as her main hobby, and that's about the highest quality she can manage, after all.]

I'm really glad I got a chance to see your art.

[splinten]

[Dirk Cannot Accept This. Not just because he has the weirdest issues with taking compliments; it in fact stands in opposition to his actual philosophies on learning and art.]

There's a degree of talent involved in anything, in that any human is limited by their genetic code and their environment which activates or deactivates certain genetics. That doesn't necessarily guarantee competency; it just points towards the kind of difficulties that need to be surmounted in order to achieve a certain level. There's no doubt in my mind that you're capable of at least this much with practice and appropriate instruction.

1/2

[soulcomet]

[whoa.]

[soulcomet]

[that was ... that was him saying, in a bit of a long-winded and very Dirk Strider sort of way, that he believed in her, wasn't it? at least, that's how Madoka's interpreting it.]

[well, she isn't going to let him down, then — she nods fervently, clutching at her notebook with renewed determination.]

You're right — I just need to work even harder at it, right? I promise I will. And — [here. she carefully tears her drawing out of her notebook, and holds it out to him.]

You hold onto this. The next one's going to be even better.

[splinten]

[Thanks, Madoka, for believing in him who believes in you.

Dirk accepts the drawing. He will keep it safe.]

Fuck yeah it will be. In your dreams, you are the star. It's you.