[Action/"Voice"]

[mikangirl]

[Nami for her own part is content to either stay with her mother or go out exploring with Sanji for the first day or two she's home. It's bitterly cold out there and she doesn't like it much at all-- it's nothing like Cocoyashi-- and her feet are a little red from early barefoot adventures in the snow, but luckily she doesn't catch cold. She's more grounded and less restless than Sanji is, because Bellemere is here. And that means she can let Bellemere take care of things. Because after all, didn't mama say that they wouldn't be here for very long? She misses Nojiko, but if it's only for a little while, then maybe she'll just treat this as a holiday.

Then the second night passes, and Nami turns 10. And everything changes.]



[She's had nightmares before. And the last night was unsettling with the dreams she had, but they weren't bad dreams-- just ones that feel like she's lived a lifetime in one night. Or...one year, as the case may be.

The second night, she wakes up with a wail (muffled brutally by shoving the blanket up to her mouth, because nobody likes a crying human) and tears and her arm hurts but mostly all she can remember right now is Bellemere and the screams when they stepped on her arm and the blood and the way Arlong just shot her down--

die for your pathetic love--

--and everything that followed. And she knows why her arm hurts, but that doesn't make any sense, and Bellemere is right upstairs and Nami just spends the next ten minutes crying into the blanket and not daring to look at her arm. And when she can separate dream from reality just enough, she slides out of bed and doesn't even bother to dress properly, running for the stairs to the next floor in an oversized tshirt that hangs off her arms and going straight for her mama's bedroom.

She eventually falls asleep again and further returning memories distance her from the shock of that death, but none of them are good memories. And now she's confused to boot, because sometimes when she closes her eyes she expects to open them somewhere else entirely. And Nami grows to like the cold, because as long as there's snow outside, it means she's not at Arlong Park, and that means that maybe she can put it all aside as an especially bad nightmare and it didn't really happen. Because it didn't. Because Bellemere is here.

Anyway, distracting herself from darker thoughts is a damn good idea, really. Best to try and not think about it and just...stick with Bellemere a lot today.]

["Voice"]

[So in the afternoon, Luceti, there is a little girl staring back at you from the journals. And doing the most awesomely intelligent thing:



[Yeah. Because making faces at you all is really mature. She just wants to see how many people notice her, because damn this magical journal is fun.]

[Action]

[If people want to run into Nami at varying ages, she can be found:

-- At the library on Monday when she is 12, trying to reach that top shelf of navigation books;

-- At Good Spirits on Wednesday when she is 14, trying her luck at being served underage drinks (look, she can hold her liquor okay B|); and

-- Pretty much anywhere on the following Friday when she is 16, because she's smitten with a severe case of wanderlust; a rooftop, a shop, the forest, the battledome...anywhere. Chances are if you run into Nami today, she might attempt to pickpocket you just because she's got the suspicion she's damn good at it. And those ships out at sea hold her attention for a fair while, because...well, wouldn't it be nice to sail one away? These dreams, man. 

For ages 17 and up, well... there'll be another post much later.  Just to avoid confusion.]

Comments

[alabastajewel]

[Vivi can't help but giggle at the comment about Luffy.] You get used to it. And, yes, I'm fine. [One bag is easily managed, and the walk back to House 6 isn't a long one anyway.]

Did you have plans for the day?

[mikanthief]

I have plans to complain about being bored, if that helps. [She hitches the bag up, carrying it on her hip like a little kid] Why?

[alabastajewel]

[Just what she wants to hear.] Have you been to the hot springs yet? I thought we could go this afternoon, if you'd like.

[mikanthief]

There's a hot springs? [Stopping dead in the road, and then she skips ahead to turn and face Vivi.] Yes! Let's go right now! Or I mean, after we take this shopping home! How far away is it?

[alabastajewel]

[Vivi nods, laughing lightly.] It's in the mountains, but there's a teleporter--you know about those, don't you?

[Nami's enthusiasm is infectious, and Vivi starts to walk a little faster as House 6 comes into view.] All right! We'll put this away and then we can go!

[mikanthief]

Sounds like a plan. Race you home. [Yyyyep, she's running for the door.]

[alabastajewel]

[jsdhfk no fair, Nami!]

[Vivi gives a surprised laugh and starts to give chase, but with Nami's head start, it's no contest.]

[mikanthief]

[Mwhaha, success! Nami practially whirlwinds around the kitchen, putting things away in the fridge and the cupboards (not necessarily in the exactly right place, but close enough) and is on hand to help Vivi with hers when she arrives.]

We need towels, right? I'll get some. Should we take something to eat as well?

[alabastajewel]

I'll pack a snack for us while you get the towels.

[With Sanji baking up a storm since he's gotten back, there's plenty to choose from. Vivi takes some brownies and raspberry tarts, as well as a few mikans and a bunch of grapes, and--hey, why not?--a few bottles of cola.]

[mikanthief]

Got it! [Nami empties out the duffel bag that she packed to sneak out of the house with Sanji a few nights ago and takes it to the linen cupboard hauling out two towels for them each.] So does everyone know where these hot springs are?

[alabastajewel]

Ah, yes, they aren't exactly a secret. [Hm.] I don't think it should be crowded, though.

[mikanthief]

I hope not. It'll be cold out of them though, right? I should pack blankets as well. [Yup, still ransacking the cupboard.] Is there anything else up there?

[alabastajewel]

There's a bathhouse, too.

[Vivi takes her small basket of goodies and goes to join Nami.]

[mikanthief]

Sounds great. [She closes the cupboard door and slings the bag over one shoulder.] You ready?

[alabastajewel]

Yes, I'm ready. Let's go!

[And Vivi will begin to lead the way to the rec center teleporter.]

[mikanthief]

[Nami follows readily, though the bag doesn't stay over her shoulder long. It's too much fun to swing it, okay.] So have I been up there before?

[alabastajewel]

[Vivi nods.] In fact, you're the one who brought me there for the first time. And then we camped out overnight in the mountains.

[Ah, warmer days; how she misses you. How long does winter last, again?]

[mikanthief]

Ahah, I did? I have good taste! Maybe we can do that again some day.

Assuming sometimes it doesn't snow around here.

[alabastajewel]

That would be fun; we'll have to!

I think it may be another few months before it's warm enough, though.

[mikanthief]

Aw, really? [Pout.]

I guess that means neither of us may still be here, huh.

[alabastajewel]

[Hm. Point. There's no warning as to when someone might be sent back home. Vivi knows this, really.]

[But to hear Nami state it so frankly gives her a twinge of sadness. Of course she misses Alabasta, and Luceti is far from an ideal environment, but going home means she'll be separated from her nakama again. More to the point, it means forgetting the time they had together here. For a step or two, the rhythm of her walking falters.]

Mm. [Vivi nods, making a small sound of agreement.]

[mikanthief]

[And Nami can make a semi accurate guess to the thoughts behind that reaction. There's a beat of silence before she's skipping ahead slightly, turning to face Vivi (and still kind of walking backwards.)]

Well, if we go back before that you know I'll come visit you. You said we could have baths, remember?

[alabastajewel]

...how could I forget? [And just like that, her expression is sunny again. Looking up, she sees the first leg of their journey is almost complete.]

We're nearly ther--ah, Nami-san, watch where you're going! [AKA don't trip on that snow piled at the side of the path.]

[mikanthief]

Watch where-- [She turns, though not quite soon enough, foot catching in the snow and then she's flailing.] Ack--!!

[/faceplant. Mind you, it didn't look like she tried very hard to avoid it.]

[alabastajewel]

[Vivi winces, and hurries over to help her up.]

Are you all right? [She suspects the snow helped to break Nami's fall, but she still may have twisted an ankle or something.]