Luke Private Convos

[frilly]

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Week 5 | Post Trial

[frilly]

[ On Saturday evening, Madoka will knock lightly, then enter his room at the inn. She's carrying a lunchbox with a pretty simple meal - rice and veggies and some sides, and comes to set it down close to him. ]

... I was cooking for Nonon-san, so I thought I would bring you some, too. If you can eat.

[dupelicate]

[He watches Madoka enter, expression reticent and wary, hinging on embarrassment. His chin drops, and he swallows, exhaling slowly.

Finally:]

...You didn't have to.

[What has he done today, except burden people?]

Thank you.

[frilly]

No, but I wanted to.

[ she sits down on her knees across from him - she's not going to just give him food and bail. ]

... You did something brave, and difficult.

[dupelicate]

I did too little, too late.

[...]

Because I'm a... a coward.

[frilly]

[ if she had tried talking to him right after the trial she might have said something different, but now that she's had time to calm down... ]

... Maybe. But it's natural to be afraid in a situation like this. It's true that... It would have been better to speak up earlier, but... That you did it at all still matters.

[dupelicate]

I didn't do anything.

[...]

I just kept... hoping we'd find something else. Or find a reason.

Find... anything.

[frilly]

[ she shakes her head. ]

You told the truth. And I don't blame you for - not wanting to. You wanted to protect your friend.

[dupelicate]

He's...

[his voice hesitates, nearly cracks.]

He's my best friend. He practically raised me. He's forgiven me, watched me, trusted me... he...

He...

[he trails off, falling silent, unable to find more words. Instead, he slumps.]

I'm so stupid.

[frilly]

[ . . . ]

Can I tell you about my best friend? You don't have to listen if you don't want to.

[dupelicate]

[The question breaks him out of it, sidelines him enough to collect his thoughts, and turn, full attention on Madoka.]

...Yeah.

Please.

[frilly]

Um... A lot of this is going to sound strange, but...

[ hm, it takes her a second to figure out a coherent way to explain this while conveying what she wants to convey. when she does speak, it's slow and evenly. ]

Magical girls each get their own unique powers, based on the wish that was granted to them in exchange for becoming magical girls in the first place. For Homura-chan - my best friend... She wanted to save me from... Well, from what happened to all magical girls.

And so, to make that wish possible, Homura-chan was able to go back in time. I even asked her to protect me, once. She promised that she would try as many times as it took to protect me.

And... She tried a lot of times. Over and over.

And the more times she tried, the more focused she got. Until she was letting our other friends... [ she hesitates, clearly avoiding the word 'die.' ] Get hurt, if that's what it took.

[ she pauses ]

[dupelicate]

[That gets him listening, gives him pause.

When Madoka stops, he's still hanging on her every word, staring at her with a child-like focus.]

...Get hurt.

[He nods, once, waiting with bated breath.]

WEEK 6 (SUNDAY)

[dupelicate]

[It's not really a room he spends much—or, indeed, any—time in, but when he spots Madoka on her way into the creepy room full of crystal balls, pillow, and rocks, he gives chase—or, at least, follows at a non-stalker distance.

When he reaches the door, he even knocks before entering.]

Hello?

Uh. Madoka?

[frilly]

[ Madoka looks up at Luke from where she seems to just be settling down to sit on the various cushions and pillows on the floor. ]

Oh, Luke-kun. Hello...!

[dupelicate]

Hey!

[He slides in, shutting the door behind him.]

Um.

Do you have a minute?

[frilly]

Of course.

[ she pats a cushion next to her! ]

Is everything okay?

[dupelicate]

Oh, yeah. Actually, I feel a lot better.

[Crossing the distance, he lets himself down on to the pillow with a wumpf.]

I just... wanted to apologize to you.

And thank you.

[frilly]

I'm glad - that you're feeling better. You've been through a lot.

[ they all have.

that said, she looks totally confused by the latter part. ]

Apologize? What for?

[dupelicate]

For helping me. I was acting like an idiot, and... what you said really helped.

So, thanks, Madoka.

[frilly]

[ Madoka smiles and shakes her head slowly. ]

I don't think I did anything special. And - it's natural to get emotional in situations like these.

So I don't think you should apologize. But... You're welcome.

[dupelicate]

You didn't get emotional. And you did help me! Even though I...

[AM A HUGE RUDE JACKOFF]

...really didn't deserve it. Least of all, from you.

[frilly]

[ Madoka was plenty emotional, but her goddessly maternal instincts kick in when she sees other people breaking down... ]

I'm happy if I was able to help you. That's all that really matters.

We're all in this together.

[ despite it being set up as if they aren't. ]

[dupelicate]

Yeah. We are.

[...]

And... hey, listen, I'm really sorry about...

[hnngh]

...Th-The party. When I said...

[UGHHH]

...Some... stupid stuff.

[S T R E A M L I N E D]

1/2

[frilly]

[ ......... yeah okay he might owe her an apology for that one.

but after thinking about it for a second... ]

2/2

[frilly]

[ ... she bursts into giggles. ]

O-oh, that's okay - don't worry about it! But when you came with all those drinks - it was like you were trying to make me less... Streamlined...!

[ trying to fatten her up, eh!!! EH!!! ]