riverviewlogs | (closed) back at it again at fantasy krispy kreme

(As with Taako, Lucretia's ward pings her to Magnus' arrival; she chokes on her coffee and has to abandon her breakfast in order to pull some clothes on. It isn't as if Magnus hasn't seen her in her pyjamas before, but she's trying to maintain this image of mostly haaving her shit together. She's pulling a woolen sweater over her head when he knocks, and waves the door open with mage hand as she approaches it.

There he is. He has a slightly confused look about him, like he's got a lot on his mind; Lucretia is a little overwhelmed by the sight of him.)

Hey. (She can't resist continuing in her trajectory, stepping in close and encircling her arms about his shoulders to hold him tightly. Lucretia knows she has a lot to answer for and she's more than happy to do so, but hopes she can be allowed one moment to give a dearly missed family member a big ol' hug.)

[There's hesitation, but only for a second. He'd walked up to her door expecting himself to be insistent in getting the answers he wants from her, an explanation for her actions, but now he realizes he really just wanted this. To see her again. After his initial pause, he wraps her in his arms.]

Hey, buddy.

[He lingers in the hug for a moment more, and when they separate, he offers her a smile, with some melancholy behind it.]

Can I come in?

(She gives his hair a ruffle before she leans back. He's exactly as she remembers leaving him behind in Raven's Roost.)

Of course. (She steps back to let him in, and crosses to the kitchen to put her dishes in the sink.) Can I get you something?

No, I'm good. Thanks.

[He couldn't possibly eat right now, not with what he's about to start. He really, really doesn't want to have this conversation, but he can't not.]

Listen, Luce. The way you and I left off on the Starblaster...

[He pauses here, to let this set the tone. So Lucretia can find her bearings.]

Edited 2017-09-06 21:39 (UTC)

(She pauses in the middle of washing out her coffee cup, letting the warm water rush over her hands while she thinks of what to say in response to this. Eventually she turns the tap off and turns to him, wiping her hands on her jeans.)

I... I know that you have questions. I'll answer whatever you want to know.

Edited (when you see a typo the moment u hit send) 2017-09-06 21:44 (UTC)

[Her openness certainly helps keep the tension levels to a minimum here. He trusts that whatever wrongdoings she's committed, she will take responsibility and own up to them. For now, anyway.

He thinks he already knows why she wiped their memories, but.]

Why didn't you ask us for help?

(Lucretia leans back against the counter with a sigh. Startin' off big, huh.)

Because... I didn't think I needed it. (It's a little embarrassing to have to have to admit this, considering what she knows of the future. She bites her lip.)

It... well, it wasn't easy. Cycle sixty-five, I mean. (Her voice is light, casual, but her hands have clenched into twin fists.) But I did the damn thing, Magnus; so why couldn't I do it again? You were all so sad and I just wanted to do something. I wanted to fix it.

[That's not right.]

...You survived by yourself in a hostile environment for a year, and we weren't there for it. You were so strong and that was something none of us could ever have accomplished, and... We never really showed you enough appreciation for that, huh?

[Honestly, now that he's reminded of it again, he realized that while their reunion in cycle sixty-six was emotional, it never felt like anything more than a reunion. They really do owe her a lot for that.]

—But that doesn't mean you could've stopped the Hunger by yourself. Lucretia, that's—that's crazy.

(She exhales sharply and folds her arms defensively across her chest. They hadn't, sure, but then: she hadn't given them much of a chance to be there for her, either. When she had made it quite clear that she didn't want to talk about what happened during that solitary year of hers, the others had understood and backed off, and they'd never really come back to it.

She still doesn't want to talk about it. Maybe some day– maybe after she stops waking up occassionally at night full of panic to check that she isn't alone, she'll be able to revist that year of her life.)

Is it? (She looks at him then, and her expression is stubborn.) I had a plan– I had the shield, Magnus, and I knew that if I could just take a year, maybe two, I could set things right again, for all of us.

(This explanation is in the past tense for a reason. Her gaze drops to consider the floor.) I don't know if Taako told you but it won't work out like that. Not the way that I want. And now I don't know what to do.

[He knows he doesn't need to scold her for her failed plan. The sharp tone he'd taken neutralizes.]

Yeah, he did.

[A thoughtful pause.]

Did I ever talk to you about my training with the Power Bear in the Animal Kingdom?

(Maybe it's because she's been having these kinds of conversations mostly with Taako- who is still justifiably angry at her over what happened- but she had been expecting him to yell at her. When he doesn't, she relaxes a little, arms unfolding.)

Briefly. But that was a long time ago.

Edited (added a d. gotta have the d) 2017-09-07 00:04 (UTC)

[He actually approaches Lucretia now, with some sympathy. He's beginning to realize what drove her actions, because he's all too familiar with it.]

See, Creesh, I know where you're coming from. You wanna be strong for everybody so we don't have to. And I get, that, for real. Why do you think I dive headfirst into every dangerous situation?

[He lets out a small laugh in spite of himself.]

I thought I had to take all the big hits for everyone—because I'm the strong guy, y'know? I mean, I still do that. I'm not too bright. But the Power Bear taught me how to depend on my friends. Lucretia, what strength really is, is—it's knowing how much you can take. It's knowing when to ask for help. Nobody's supposed to take all the big hits alone. When you do that you just get hurt. [He's covered in the scars to prove it.] You find strength in teamwork—in your friends.

Edited (had to add one single forward slash to fix the css. nice) 2017-09-07 00:26 (UTC)

(For a long moment, she looks at him, mulling his words over in her mind.

It's surprisingly wise, coming from Magnus. She had pulled together everything she had, and then the moment her plan had come into question she had panicked and doubled down– or at least, she's assuming that's what happens. That, and by that point there had been nobody left to ask. It's like watching slowly as she paints herself into a corner, knowing what she's doing isn't right but still hoping, wishing for everything to come together in the eleventh hour.)

I... (her voice is a little tremulous. She's touched by this speech, more than she cares to admit. She swallows, and tries again.)

You're right. But I didn't. And I regret that, Magnus, I really– I have no idea how I'm ever going to be able to make it up to you, to any of you, but I want to try. I'm so sorry.

Edited (rewording. im good at rp) 2017-09-07 01:59 (UTC)

[It would be a lie to say that, in the back of his mind, there wasn't a part of him that thought she never would be able to make it up to them. But—he is Magnus, and he wouldn't be who he is if there wasn't an even bigger, louder part of him saying You don't need to.

Once again, he pulls her into a hug. This time, one of forgiveness.

He surprises himself by saying next:]

I'm sorry, Luce. We all shot you down and the things we did to Faerun were... [He doesn't need to get into that.

He'd always felt guilty turning against Lucretia at the last moment. Part of him had wanted to be on her side, but something, whether it be lack of faith or maybe peer pressure from the others, had convinced him otherwise. He knew Lucretia's plan wouldn't work, but maybe, if they'd at least heard her out and reworked her plan...]

(Lucretia hadn't been able to look at him as she spoke earlier for fear of seeing something in his expression she wouldn't like, so the second hug comes as a complete surprise. Even so, she immediately lifts her arms to link tight around his middle, pressing her face into his shoulder to hide the way she immediately tears up.

She wants to say 'it's okay', but it isn't okay. And it probably isn't going to be okay for a long, long time. Lucretia knows this doesn't mean that she's off the hook, but Magnus' kindness does carve a sliver off the leaden weight of guilt inside of her, and for that she is more than grateful.)

Thank you. (Her voice is a low, muffled mumble. She sniffs.)

[As they stand there, embracing, he sighs. All he can muster in response is,]

Mhm.

[The truth is that they were all to blame, for something, in some way. Lucretia took away so much from all of them, but they'd taken so much from Faerun. Whose crime was worse, really?

He plants a kiss on her forehead, then rests his chin on her head, and lets this embrace ride itself out.]

(It's a real good embrace. Lucretia sighs, shoulders sagging as she leans into him and lets him hold her for a long time. Eventually, she leans back, wiping her face hurriedly with both hands.)

Sorry, (she says thickly, and then Junior takes that moment to dive bomb the top of Magnus' head from the kitchen ceiling with a playful hum, knocking into his forehead and giving Lucretia a moment to collect herself a little better.)

[Assuming this is an apology for the tears and not for—everything else, he starts,] No need to—

[The collision startles him at first, just because it's been a while, but he soon recognizes the feeling. He turns to the voidfish, delighted.]

Fisher! [No, wait.

Even if the two are near identical, he knows Fisher well enough that this is different to him.]

Not Fisher. Junior? [He's asking Lucretia if he's correct. He's never met Junior before, but has heard of him.]

(Lucretia nods, giving her eyes a final wipe with her thumbs as Junior turns neat circles above Magnus' head. She wonders if Junior is being familiar with him because it recognises Magnus from the stories she's been telling it; that, or perhaps a wider connection to the other voidfish, and to Fisher? Regardless of what it is exactly, it's so sweet to watch them interact.)

It came through the portal, not too long ago.

Wow. So Fisher had a baby, huh.

[He gives the voidfish an affectionate rub on its cap.] Nice to meet you, Junior. I'm your grandpa!

[To Lucretia:] He's adorable.

(~~magnus YOU'RE adorable~~

Junior seems pleased; Lucretia watches it float, and settle to rest on Magnus' shoulder, in the little crook between neck and collarbone.)

Right? It's been nice, having it around. Somebody to talk to.

(Oh, that sounds so sad Lucretia.)

[Magnus gladly lets the little creature rest on him. He and Fisher have done this a lot. Maybe Junior can sense this somehow?

Oh, Creesh, that is sad. Magnus looks at her for a moment, thoughtfully (and maybe just the tiniest bit pitifully), and then swivels two chairs from the kitchen table and takes a seat, motioning for Lucretia to take the other one.]

How about we talk? How's Riverview been treating you? [Now that he feels satisfied with his answers, they can actually catch up.]

(That, and Magnus is shaped like a friend.)

Well. (Aside from the in-fighting, obviously. Lucretia crosses to sit at her table, shifting aside some papers to make room for Magnus if he wants to come and sit too.)

Work is good and I've made lovely friends. And... I'm seeing somebody. Sort of. (She smiles hesitantly. Her eyes are still red from crying.)

[Now they're sitting down to gossip with each other like two ladies at brunch, just like old times. Hearing Lucretia is seeing someone is a surprising relief, what with Magnus knowing what he does about her love life.]

That's great! What's she like? Tell me everything.

[He's wants to know about the happy things in her life. She's so tired.]

(God she is, Magnus. Thank you. Lucretia props her elbows up on the table; this is just like old times, now.)

She's– amazing, Magnus. (She's aware that she is being so sappy right now, but she can't help it. She's ridiculously fond of Beverly.)

She from a ship– the Enterprise, and they travel intergalactically. She's a doctor.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject