week one ❧ wednesday

[learnings]

[Nino's been searching for Lief in particular! Who...she still thinks is Lewin. This is fine. Everything is fine.

Either way, she's looking for him, something clasped in her hands, and when she finally finds him on the beach:]

Oh...! Lewin! Hello!

Comments

[reidentify]

[INTERNALLY CRINGING.

To his credit, though, Lief manages not to look completely awkward as Nino calls him by a name that has since been outed as fake, even as he wonders why—is she passive-aggressively calling him out? A few have done that, but with more emphasis on his name. What is she doing??

Either way, he's sitting on the beach, initially staring out into the ocean, before he looks at Nino.]

Hello, Nino. How are you doing?

[learnings]

[Please, as if Nino would know how to be passive aggressive.]

I'm doing all right! What about you?

[Sparkle!!

She's.

Compartmentalizing the murder bit.

It's fine.]

[reidentify]

[Everything's fine.]

I am doing as well as I can. [Aka he's the furthest thing from okay, but shhhh.] And Jaffar?

[learnings]

[She's not good enough at reading things like that, Lief!!]

Jaffar's good! I'm really glad that I found him... [PHEW.] Though... um, do you mind if I ask you something?

[reidentify]

[Good, then he can keep faking it!!]

What is it?

[learnings]

Have you...talked to Jaffar yet?

[She's going somewhere with this, she promises.]

[reidentify]

[He shakes his head.]

I fear I have had not had the chance to meet him yet.

[learnings]

... Okay.

Jaffar isn't very good at talking to people. He can come across as really scary sometimes, I think...and he's been through a lot. I won't ask you to defend him when you don't even know him, but...

People trust you, Lewin! You're a good person and you're always helping all of us, so...

Could you talk to Jaffar? And... maybe try to get to know him?

[And if he comes under suspicion for being a shady past assassin and looking like he could stab people, and Lief thinks he isn't... then defend him with her, too, maybe.]

[reidentify]

[...]

I do not know if people trust me, when they have known me for only a few days, but of course. I will talk to him.

[He smiles, in hopes of reassuring Nino.]

It will not be the first time I have associated with someone who seems "scary" at first.

[A pause, though, before, awkwardly—]

... However, I should tell you, Nino: my name is Lief, not Lewin. I apologize, but I gave a false name when we first met.

[learnings]

Thank you so much! Um... I really, really do appreciate it.

[Lief is the best.

A beat, and...she slowly processes that, brow furrowing.]

...Oh. Huh. Okay! I'll try to remember, then. Lief, Lief, Lief... got it!

[Well that was easy.]

I'll get it right!

[reidentify]

[Just look at a tree and you'll remember his name, Nino. But he's glad that Nino doesn't even ask why he lied (even if it's a bit concerning; does she have no sense of wariness?).]

Do not thank me yet. We do not know if he will like me at all, after all.

[learnings]

Oh... that's okay! I'm just really happy that you're willing to talk to him!

[It means a lot, okay...]

A lot of people can be a little scared of him, so...