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[Lobelia had been busy taking a survey of their surroundings to get a better understanding of their current predicament when, out of nowhere, reality shifts. Time dilates, his vision briefly blurs, and then he's standing before Ludger at the wishing well.]
Oh là là! Did you summon me, Monsieur Ludger, or was that the work of the wishing well?
[But Lobelia isn't all Ludger is... rewarded with. A moment later, the well spits out a rather large conch shell for him to catch and claim as his own.]
Ah! And what a fine conque! I do hope you'll treat it well!
Oh là là! Did you summon me, Monsieur Ludger, or was that the work of the wishing well?
[But Lobelia isn't all Ludger is... rewarded with. A moment later, the well spits out a rather large conch shell for him to catch and claim as his own.]
Ah! And what a fine conque! I do hope you'll treat it well!
[
the shock of Lobelia appearing via a modified bloody Mary ritual causes Ludger to fail the catch. in fact, he doesn't even try.
thunk. ]
Ow!
the shock of Lobelia appearing via a modified bloody Mary ritual causes Ludger to fail the catch. in fact, he doesn't even try.
thunk. ]
Ow!
[Oh. Lobelia saw that one coming, but not quickly enough to spare Ludger from the wrath of the conch. Reaching out his hand to ruffle Ludger's hair, Lobelia's looking for any injuries. Those shells are more than a little spiky.]
Mm! That sounded quite painful. Are you all right?
Mm! That sounded quite painful. Are you all right?
[ no his head hurts >:( ]
Yeah, it's... Fine. It could've been worse.
[ Ludger accepts the hair ruffle for a moment before straightening, sighing. well, barely a minute in and this plan has already been ruined. he might as well just get his question out there so he can go find an ice pack or soothing. ]
Hey, did you send me a letter? I found it in my things yesterday, and it sounds a little like you.
Yeah, it's... Fine. It could've been worse.
[ Ludger accepts the hair ruffle for a moment before straightening, sighing. well, barely a minute in and this plan has already been ruined. he might as well just get his question out there so he can go find an ice pack or soothing. ]
Hey, did you send me a letter? I found it in my things yesterday, and it sounds a little like you.
Got a lot of penpals out there?
[ but Ludger will pull a folded square of paper from his pocket and hand it over without further complaint. ]
Does it look familiar? It's... a little weird, honestly.
[ but Ludger will pull a folded square of paper from his pocket and hand it over without further complaint. ]
Does it look familiar? It's... a little weird, honestly.
Edited (why am I even linking a screenshot you guys know what it says) 2025-11-10 20:22 (UTC)
... Is everything a trade with you guys?
[ there is, of course, an inevitable give and take in all interactions between people. but here, in this situation, about a page of words that might not even mean anything? ]
Can I take another look? I just skimmed it before I came to try and find you.
[ Ludger puts his hand out for the paper ]
[ there is, of course, an inevitable give and take in all interactions between people. but here, in this situation, about a page of words that might not even mean anything? ]
Can I take another look? I just skimmed it before I came to try and find you.
[ Ludger puts his hand out for the paper ]
[ letter in hand once again, there's only a beat of silence before Ludger answers: ]
Yes. If I could, I would save them.
[ as self-righteous as it is, Ludger hasn't met a monster that didn't have something pitiable about them. ]
Yes. If I could, I would save them.
[ as self-righteous as it is, Ludger hasn't met a monster that didn't have something pitiable about them. ]
Just because I'd do it doesn't mean it's the best choice for anyone else. And I can think of at least one monster who'd rather slit his own throat before accepting my help.
[ he's a little surprised Rideaux isn't crawling out of the well to murder him, frankly. ]
[ he's a little surprised Rideaux isn't crawling out of the well to murder him, frankly. ]
[Ah, there it is— such quiet conviction wrapped in melancholy. Lobelia tilts his head, expression soft, a little thoughtful. There's something in Ludger's tone that strikes him as far too heavy for such a simple truth.]
Then perhaps that's what makes you worth saving yourself, mon ami. The kind of man who would offer his hand even knowing it might be bitten... how very human of you.
Then perhaps that's what makes you worth saving yourself, mon ami. The kind of man who would offer his hand even knowing it might be bitten... how very human of you.
Well, that's the power of free will for you.
[ an imperfection of the soul, strong enough to corrupt spirits and poison the cycle of reincarnation. and so treasured by Origin, despite it all. ]
I know what my life is worth, Lobelia, and salvation isn't in the cards. But while I'm still here, I'll do what I can.
... Can I assume you didn't write this, then?
[ an imperfection of the soul, strong enough to corrupt spirits and poison the cycle of reincarnation. and so treasured by Origin, despite it all. ]
I know what my life is worth, Lobelia, and salvation isn't in the cards. But while I'm still here, I'll do what I can.
... Can I assume you didn't write this, then?
Are you quite sure? I feel similarly assured, yet there are those who would insist that no one is beyond salvation. Mention such a notion to Père Hansa, and he may well argue the opposite.
[But Lobelia will not. His own sentiments are not so far removed from Ludger's— in his eyes, man steers his own fate. Ludger has chosen his path, and that is enough.]
Ah, but oui— I did not write that letter, nor can I tell you who did. One of life's many little mysteries, perhaps. All the same, it was clearly meant for your hands.
[But Lobelia will not. His own sentiments are not so far removed from Ludger's— in his eyes, man steers his own fate. Ludger has chosen his path, and that is enough.]
Ah, but oui— I did not write that letter, nor can I tell you who did. One of life's many little mysteries, perhaps. All the same, it was clearly meant for your hands.
Edited 2025-11-11 02:49 (UTC)
[ Ludger makes a face, like he's bitten into a lemon. ]
I'd rather not talk about salvation with Hansa - I have a feeling we'd end up arguing about what it is and who it's for and things like that.
[ day 0 and Ludger straight up said "i think everyone has the capacity for murder" to Hansa's face. he might be a little embarrassed about that. ]
Does it look like anything Sage, Rosemary, or Foxglove would write?
I'd rather not talk about salvation with Hansa - I have a feeling we'd end up arguing about what it is and who it's for and things like that.
[ day 0 and Ludger straight up said "i think everyone has the capacity for murder" to Hansa's face. he might be a little embarrassed about that. ]
Does it look like anything Sage, Rosemary, or Foxglove would write?
Heheh! You would be right to suspect such a response from that stubborn man.
[Some things you just know... like the fact that you're going to hell. Lobelia can understand where Ludger is coming from, but it's hard to imagine he would be on a lower layer of hell than himself.]
I must profess that I don't know the three of them well enough to answer with confidence. That said, they are a friendly bunch. It wouldn't hurt to inquire.
[Some things you just know... like the fact that you're going to hell. Lobelia can understand where Ludger is coming from, but it's hard to imagine he would be on a lower layer of hell than himself.]
I must profess that I don't know the three of them well enough to answer with confidence. That said, they are a friendly bunch. It wouldn't hurt to inquire.
[ some things you just Know, after all ]
I'm not sure if I hope it's one of them or not - the only other weirdly written things around have been those information packets and the cards. But if it was...
[ why so spooky ]
I'll check it out. Thanks, Lobelia.
I'm not sure if I hope it's one of them or not - the only other weirdly written things around have been those information packets and the cards. But if it was...
[ why so spooky ]
I'll check it out. Thanks, Lobelia.
Mm! In any case, I'll trust your instincts. Should you uncover anything of interest, do let me know. Mysteries are far less dreadful when shared, non?
[He gives a genial nod, the thinnest trace of amusement in his eyes before turning to go. A small mystery solved... or perhaps simply postponed for another day.]
[He gives a genial nod, the thinnest trace of amusement in his eyes before turning to go. A small mystery solved... or perhaps simply postponed for another day.]
[ rip the others who now will have threads after me being on thursday and to you who may have to play time shenanigans but i believe in you. but what the hell sure, let's have foxglove catch ludger up in the branches.
it's so small but it'll be looking up at him. ]
What are you doing...?
it's so small but it'll be looking up at him. ]
What are you doing...?
[ Foxglove is last because Ludger had to check the plants throughout the week! Thursday seemed like a good compromise! anyways now everything can happen all at once in this field. the other pcs? they're just waiting their turn in line.
Ludger's head pops out of the branches to beam down at Foxglove. ]
Foxglove! I was looking for you!
Ludger's head pops out of the branches to beam down at Foxglove. ]
Foxglove! I was looking for you!
[ naru does foxglove have live rabbit ears stapled to their puppet body... ]
It'll be fine, I've jumped from higher before.
[ he stretches before sprawling out on whatever branch he's perched on, cat tail swinging freely. kind of a skinny branch to hold up a full adult... ]
So, two things for you - actually, three. Which one do you want to hear first?
It'll be fine, I've jumped from higher before.
[ he stretches before sprawling out on whatever branch he's perched on, cat tail swinging freely. kind of a skinny branch to hold up a full adult... ]
So, two things for you - actually, three. Which one do you want to hear first?
Hmmm... Then I guess I'll start with the plant stuff, though you may have already noticed it.
[ people Were talking about it during trial ]
Nothing changes around the wishing well - no leaves falling, no plants growing, nothing. Whatever it is, it goes all the way to the amphitheater. But past that, the plants are all behaving normally - wilting and turning brown.
[ people Were talking about it during trial ]
Nothing changes around the wishing well - no leaves falling, no plants growing, nothing. Whatever it is, it goes all the way to the amphitheater. But past that, the plants are all behaving normally - wilting and turning brown.
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