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[Lobelia hadn't been expecting a visitor, but boy, is he pleased to have company. Better yet, it's père Hansa! What joy!
Lobelia comes sprinting out on wooden legs (yes, he grew a second), still glistening and glowing faintly from his extended bath in the wishing well. It's alarming how quickly this puppet can move.]
Salutations, ma cher père! We meet again! Have you come to cast a coin into the well?
Lobelia comes sprinting out on wooden legs (yes, he grew a second), still glistening and glowing faintly from his extended bath in the wishing well. It's alarming how quickly this puppet can move.]
Salutations, ma cher père! We meet again! Have you come to cast a coin into the well?
Edited 2025-11-08 00:45 (UTC)
Ah, the man of the hour.
[That sure is...another leg, but okay! He has something to ask! First! He is already sort of exhausted.]
Maybe later. Let's have a chat. [...] Why are you glowing?
[That sure is...another leg, but okay! He has something to ask! First! He is already sort of exhausted.]
Maybe later. Let's have a chat. [...] Why are you glowing?
[Now he can dance properly! Well, almost. He's still without hands, but let's consider that a blessing. Lobelia can only do so much harm when he has no fingers to snap.
In addition to sparkling radiantly, he also has a cute little hat on his head. Nala is a kind soul.]
Mm! That would be because I took a dunk in the well! Thankfully, cher Ramuda was kind enough to retrieve this vessel after that brutish man with the silver hair left me to drown.
In addition to sparkling radiantly, he also has a cute little hat on his head. Nala is a kind soul.]
Mm! That would be because I took a dunk in the well! Thankfully, cher Ramuda was kind enough to retrieve this vessel after that brutish man with the silver hair left me to drown.
...
Someone tried to drown you?
[...]</small< Was it Siffrin.
Someone tried to drown you?
[...]</small< Was it Siffrin.
[HE REALLY CAME HERE TO ASK WHAT THE FUCK IS HAPPENING BUT THIS IS SURE A LOT OF THINGS HE IS LEARNING]
...
So your body isn't here. It's somewhere else? This is just a vessel?
[He's just going to move to sit near the well for now.]
Why do you want to feel pain, anyways? That's not a way to salvation.
...
So your body isn't here. It's somewhere else? This is just a vessel?
[He's just going to move to sit near the well for now.]
Why do you want to feel pain, anyways? That's not a way to salvation.
Oui! That is correct! I assure you that I am far more beautiful than this hollow vessel would suggest.
[While Hansa rests his weary old bones, Lobelia is sprinting in circles around the well, enjoying the sound of wood striking dirt and stone.]
Why? Because it reminds me I exist. Every snap, every fracture, every note of agony... it's proof that I am still part of this world's harmonie. Salvation is silence— no pulse, no song. But pain? Pain is music, and I am a collector of beautiful sounds.
[While Hansa rests his weary old bones, Lobelia is sprinting in circles around the well, enjoying the sound of wood striking dirt and stone.]
Why? Because it reminds me I exist. Every snap, every fracture, every note of agony... it's proof that I am still part of this world's harmonie. Salvation is silence— no pulse, no song. But pain? Pain is music, and I am a collector of beautiful sounds.
Pain is music...
[What a thing to say. Hansa thinks on it for a bit, watching the puppet run around.]
Why not come out with your real body and just. Fight someone, then?
[What a thing to say. Hansa thinks on it for a bit, watching the puppet run around.]
Why not come out with your real body and just. Fight someone, then?
You say you're so beautiful. A man has to wonder.
[You know! Normal thoughts!]
[You know! Normal thoughts!]
Now now, do not presume me to be the lustful sort. I simply enjoy beauty. I am, of course, a holy man.
[A tilt of the head.]
When will the curtain rise?
[A tilt of the head.]
When will the curtain rise?
Then that makes two of us, appreciating beauty in all its forms! Though unlike you, perhaps, I am perfectly content to wait for good things to come in due time. And if I were to give you an answer, would you be inclined to believe it?
[Most wouldn't, and Lobelia hardly expects otherwise. He seems entirely unbothered either way.]
[Most wouldn't, and Lobelia hardly expects otherwise. He seems entirely unbothered either way.]
You could try me.
[But fine, fine, he will be patient.]
Lobelia. Could I ask you something? Why do you think we're here?
[But fine, fine, he will be patient.]
Lobelia. Could I ask you something? Why do you think we're here?
You see... Sage considers it a matter of safety that we appear before you as these marionettes. If you want my honest opinion, none of you pose a threat in your current states, but I understand Sage's caution all the same. Some of us are a little more... délicat than others.
[Perhaps that would ease a few minds, though Lobelia doubts it will do much good. Regardless—]
I have my suspicions, though they remain only theories. Typically, a being with both the interest and the means to drag others into a new world has some grand design in motion— something it requires living hands to see through.
That is, of course, assuming there is such a greater power at all. What say you, ma cher père?
[Perhaps that would ease a few minds, though Lobelia doubts it will do much good. Regardless—]
I have my suspicions, though they remain only theories. Typically, a being with both the interest and the means to drag others into a new world has some grand design in motion— something it requires living hands to see through.
That is, of course, assuming there is such a greater power at all. What say you, ma cher père?
I'm a priest. Believing in a higher power is all I do.
[He frowns, though, silent for a moment.]
You think this place has some sort of malice behind it, then.
[He frowns, though, silent for a moment.]
You think this place has some sort of malice behind it, then.
...
No. This place feels hostile. I don't like it.
No. This place feels hostile. I don't like it.
Hehe! I had a feeling you would agree!
You've noticed it as well, haven't you? The absence of birdsong. No cheerful children singing their tunes, no animals roaming the wilds. To call this place cursed would be no exaggeration. The silence is dreadful— and altogether unnatural.
You've noticed it as well, haven't you? The absence of birdsong. No cheerful children singing their tunes, no animals roaming the wilds. To call this place cursed would be no exaggeration. The silence is dreadful— and altogether unnatural.
No wonder you crave your music.
[He wipes a hand down the face, feeling tired.]
And now someone is dead? Tell me if that's a joke.
[He wipes a hand down the face, feeling tired.]
And now someone is dead? Tell me if that's a joke.
...
[What can he do?]
[What should he do...?]
I suppose some would say I should deliver divine justice. But I don't play judge and jury. Only the executioner.
[What can he do?]
[What should he do...?]
I suppose some would say I should deliver divine justice. But I don't play judge and jury. Only the executioner.
...
[He smiles, rueful.]
Only the blood of monsters. How did you sniff that out?
[He smiles, rueful.]
Only the blood of monsters. How did you sniff that out?
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