"Maki Confronts Donindor" | Maki, Donindor

In the Forests of the Three Corners, Night of Game 3

Roleplayed by The Furry Ferret of Rohan and Commando Chipmunk

Maki sees Donindor sleeping under the tree. She looks up from her journal, shuts it, and then slowly approaches him, being careful not to startle him. Donindor snores fitfully.
Maki kneels down and waits, keeping several feet of distance. She wipes at her nose and sniffs.
Donindor snores.
His eyes open wide and he looks straight at her.
He stares at her without saying anything for a moment.
Maki blinks, staring straight back at him as well. She takes a deep breath. “Sorry to uh....interrupt.”
"No comment." Donindor mutters. “What is on your mind?”
Maki straightens a little. Her voice cracks. “I...I want to know more about what happened to my kingdom.”
“Oh yes. Our conversation a little interrupted I believe. You accused me of something. I don't remember what it was... please tell me.”
Maki bows her head and scratches her scalp. “I just....I just didn't understand why you didn't tell me sooner...or Xkoll sooner.” She looks up again, her eyes flashing. “He's given up everything, you know. For Pura.”
“What did I not tell Xkoll?” Donindor said. “About Pura?”
Maki tries not to blow up. She grit her teeth. “That--it's--in--another--dimension. That it's--still--there.”
Donindor stares off into space searching. He scratches his beard.
"When was the last time I spoke to Xkoll...?"
Maki shrugs. “I don't know...he knows a lot of people...he just said he knew you.”
“Maybe you don't understand the degree of our acquaintance.” Donindor said. “I highly respect Xkoll. But it has been 300 years since he stayed with me, and that was only for a few months. I have acquired new information since then. But, but . . .”
Maki listens. She blinks.
“I . . . oh my. Why did I never think of it?” Donindor mutters.
Maki gives him a blank stare. “…YEAH.” She clears her throat. “So, how do we get it back?”
Donindor still mutters. “How did I forgot? I must have written it down somewhere, and one thing must have driven out another. I had a lot of reconnaissance missions at that time...” He looked up. “Huh? Oh. Get it back? I haven't the slightest. The idiot who created the device and leveraged it’s strength to put the entire city of Pura into another dimension is most likely dead, and if he isn't, the order hasn't been able to locate him.”
Maki leans forward, her voice growing more urgent. “SOMEONE did it? How did it happen? Where is it?”
“Where is what?” Donindor asks.
“MY KINGDOM!” Maki blurts, her eyes wide.
“I thought you meant the device.” Donindor replied. “It's underground, somewhere near Cavern Tourism Incorporated's Festival location for this year. In Kelindor…. In fact, we're going there now. It's…Atthruu's next object of interest . . .”
Maki’s face softens and her shoulders sag. “Are you going to use it...to get Pura back?” She suddenly starts tearing up. “Do I have to wait to tell Xkoll?”
Donindor sits up fully, then sits back again, with a more serious look on his face. Concerned. "Maki--I am not going to use it for anything. It is a very mysterious object. Only the inventor knows how to operate it. In fact, I doubt it could have been used on its own to transport an entire city. The inventor must have learned how to leverage its ability somehow…and as far as we know, it may only be able to be used to suck Kingdoms to another dimension. Not. . . bring them back. But why do you care? You don't remember anything of your past.”
Maki sighs. “Yeah, I guess I don't remember, and it's really lame not remembering—” she stops. “..how did you...know...?”
“I know a lot of things for no reason apparently.” Donindor murmured.
Maki blinks. Then she sighs. She clears her throat. “I don't care, I still want it back. Xkoll deserves it back.”
“Your memory?” Donindor asks.
Maki’s voice grows quieter, her eyes close. “No. The Order of Pura.”
Donindor, aggravated with himself and the conversation, stands up, facing the other way, hands behind his back. "Humph. Humph humph."
He spins around on his heel. "Maki, Pura was a... great kingdom. But it's lost now."
Maki blinks, staring straight back at him. “But you said it's in another dimension. That means it's still there right?”
She stands up.
“Yes.” Donindor says.
“And you know what, I don't care if it's lost in that dimension too, if I can just see it, if I can just tell Xkoll once and for all that it'll all gone, then atleast he can die knowing what happened.” She wipes at her tears furiously.
Donindor heaves a heavy sigh. “Xkoll is dying?”
Maki nods and sniffs. “Yeah. I heard him talking to Simab. He was trying to keep it a secret from me. But I know better.” She huffs at herself. “Why am I feeling all these weird feelings?” More tears spring to her eyes.
Donindor's eyes shift uncomfortably. "Well Maki, those feeling just... happen sometimes…to girls especially... agh."
Maki lets out low key sob. “It feels so stupid.” Then she began to bawl. “Everyone DIES anyway. LIKE. Who cares if he's dying!” She sniffs really hard.
Donindor’s eyebrows raise to a corner of his forehead. His chin lowers to the diagonal position opposite said corner of forehead. "Yes. Everyone dies. I've seen more people die than you've seen alive. It's a dreadful business, but it's not the end, and it's not purposeless. . . anything but that. It's all those sacrifices and Xkoll's loyalty MEANS something. And your LIFE means something too."
He begins to walk away and then turns back. "And you DO care, whether you know it or not.”
Maki’s chest heaves. She begins to get her sobs back under control. “You...you sure...?” Her eyes widen, shining with tears. “Cause of Elyon...right?” She sniffs.
Donindor puts a hand on her shoulder. He says in combination of awkwardness, empathy and irritation, “Of course.”
He hesitated. “He IS the answer to all our . . . things.”
Maki nods roughly and reluctantly. “Yeah. You're right.” Then she hugs Donindor.
Donindor’s body straightens somewhat and his eyebrows raise. His lips and jaw tighten. "Yes Maki. I am right on that one. Not all the time though. In fact, not often enough for my own liking. But that's the good part about it; it's right even if you're not."
Maki gets under control, wiping at her face more. She pulls back. “I...I better go to sleep. Crying makes me sleepy,” she moans. “But, can you tell me the whole story sometime? Of how it happened? I need to know everything. I'm the last one, and it's up to me to keep the Order of Pura alive...”
"I will attempt it.” Donindor says. “But Xkoll likely knows more than I . . . of course, hmm. Good night, Maki." He puts his hand on her shoulder, squeezes it, and then walks back to the tree. He lies down on his side for a moment. Then he huffs and turns his face into his pillow and removes it onto his head. "Goodnight Maki." He says from underneath the pillow.
His snoring ensues.
Maki stands there for awhile, then sits down, keeps staring at the stars. She eventually falls asleep.