[Written]

[mikangirl]

[The advent of spring is beautiful in a mikan orchard.  Small white blossoms are everywhere between the leaves, and while there's little to no fruit on offer, it's more than enough of a sight for a mother and daughter to make the trip up here; ostensibly to survey the grove for any damage done in the last of winter, but it's just an excuse. 

It's the first time Nami gets to share this sight with Bellemere in nearly twelve years.

Maybe she can be thankful that you stayed long enough for this, mama.

She doesn't come home that day.  It's only towards afternoon that she reaches for her journal, writing in impersonal black strokes.  It's okay.  It's really okay.  It's really...

This is Luceti.  It was never going to last.]



Bellemere's gone.

Comments

[voice]

[alabastajewel]

[Definitely not the sort of thing Vivi ever wanted to hear, especially knowing Bellemere's fate back in their world.]

...Nami-san. I'm sorry. Are you all right? Would you like me to come..? [She must be at the mikan grove, right? Yes, that makes the most sense. She'll wait for an answer from Nami before setting out, however.]

[voice]

[concasse]

[Sanji waits what he hopes is a respectable enough time for Nami to answer this. When she doesn't - probably didn't look twice at her journal - he leaves Vivi a brief message]

Go check in on her.

[voice/action]

[alabastajewel]

...yes. I'll do that.

[She'd been growing antsy waiting for a reply from Nami, so Sanji's encouragement is all Vivi requires to throw on a coat and head toward the mikan grove.]

[action]

[mikangirl]

[Nami's journal has been abandoned under the tree she made the post from, Vivi. Sorry about that. She's over by the fence instead, wiping a season's worth of dirt from the creases of a pinwheel. They didn't weather the winter too well.]

[Voice]

[goldenglasses]

[At first Vash doesn't know what to say. He stares at those written words, throat tight. Nami had said Bellemere was just like Rem in a way and if that was true.

Oh Nami. He knows too well that nothing he can say will make this better. If you're feeling anything like he did when Rem left, then it feels like you've just lost your mother all over again.]

I'm so sorry, Nami.

[And if she answers that or not. Vash will be staying long hours at Good Spirit's tonight. Just in case there's someone who might need extra company there later. He'll be staying until they kick him out.]

voice;

[alloys]

[...Well, shit.]

...Sorry to hear that.

[Written]

[justicereigns]

Sorry.

[That's all, because it's Smoker talking to a Straw Hat, but still... Bellemere was a marine and an amazing person besides. He really was sorry to see her go and he could understand Nami would be upset.]

[Voice]

[mistlegacy]

...I'm sorry, Nami. I really liked her.

[action] oh god this got long

[concasse]

[He sees that message, and his heart stops for a second.

Then he releases his held breath slowly and closes the journal without a word, staring listlessly at the hardcover. They all knew this would eventually happen. It’s Luceti; you can’t expect lasting happiness, no matter how you strive for it.

Not that this makes it hurt any less.

Sanji silently figures he can count Nami out for dinner, already adjusting the portions in his mind so nothing goes to waste. And he’d rather make her something fresh when the time comes. It’s the only piece of consolation he can bring as he busies himself about the kitchen, suddenly restless with so many thoughts and this being the best way to calm them; blessed repetition he’s familiar with. He’ll stay there, occasionally checking the journals for any word from Nami (or in case he needs to shout at any shit for being insensitive), until at last he evicts himself away from the stove and oven hours later. It’s either that or he make more food than what’s left of his crew can eat. When he’s out of the kitchen and takes in a breath of something that doesn’t smell like baked goods, he finds his feet leading him up the stairs, to the room that was once Bellemere’s.

... It’s dumb, really, but he wants to check anyway. And the sight that greets him is what he expects for all his desires: bare room, stripped of personality and decoration. Looking at it, you’d never think someone had lived in it. Sanji frowns bitterly at that thought, nearly marches out and slams the door behind him… until a sheet of white catches his attention, settled serenely in the middle of the bed.

He isn’t sure what to make of it, at first. While he knows sometimes people leave things behind for their loved ones, this is the first time he’s found the evidence himself. Briefly, he wonders if this means Bellemere hasn’t left after all (ha). Yeah, the thought doesn’t last as he wanders over, picking the letter up and scanning it with a curious glance—

He gets as far as the first sentence and abruptly stops reading. The paper is folded with upmost care, like it’s made of something precious, before he slides it into his innermost jacket pocket and exits the house. It looks like he’ll take a trip out to the orchard after all. He might not run, but he does close the distance with quick strides, just hoping she hasn’t left already.]

[action] l-lol I feel like I'm short-changing you

[mikangirl]

[Nami doesn't really know why she hasn't just gone home yet. It'd be easier, she thinks, to get lost and distracted by the comfort there than to pick her way around the orchard, finding the smallest things to put into order. Maybe it's because this feels like Cocoyashi a little. She had the cottage built for Bellemere. Or maybe she's just trying to feel better before inflicting her mood on anyone else.

Maybe it's just that leaving is accepting, and she's not ready to do that just yet. It's pointless, because all the hovering in the world won't make Bellemere come back. But any time she considers the idea of going home, her thoughts drift away into static.

She's not in the darkness of the orchard when Sanji arrives. But there's light coming from the kitchen. Nami's in the kitchen, her back to the window, stirring a hot cocoa a little too much. Eventually she'll get around to drinking it.]

[action] No you're fine!

[concasse]

[Despite his legitimate reasons for being there, Sanji still steels himself before he dares knock, and poke his head through the cottage door. He felt confident sending Vivi to check in on her, but it's a different story in regards to himself. It's not that he's short-changing himself or their friendship either - Sanji just isn't quite sure what to say in this situation, when she's so obviously hurting.

Not that this stops him from greeting her with a smile, mind, even if it is blatantly concerned.] Hey, Nami-san. [He goes ahead and lets himself in, closing the door behind him. Very nearly the question "Are you alright?" escapes, but he suppresses it, just waiting for her to talk first.]

[action]

[mikangirl]

[There's a wan smile as he comes in, though Nami only glances at Sanji for a moment before she returns her attention to the cup. She's tempted to offer reassurance to that unspoken question, but she won't lie and say that she's fine.

She has misinterpreted why he's here, though.]

Hey. I was going to go home in a bit.

[Action]

[gomugomunopwn]

[He's not going to bother responding in voice to the news.

Where are you, Nami.?]

[Action]

[mikangirl]

[The orchard. Sitting near the fence and gazing blankly at the two battered pinwheels there. She really should clean them up.]

[Action]

[gomugomunopwn]

[Well in that case, Luffy is going to stroll up to the side of her. It's not like he made any effort to not be heard or anything, so she probably could hear him coming a good distance away. He's not exactly sure what he can say to help her feel better, but he can relate to how she feels. The primary difference being that he might actually get the chance to see Shanks again one day back in their world.

While Nami...]

...hey, Nami.

[Action]

[mikangirl]

[It's okay. She's mindful you've lost Ace a good three times in Luceti now. It's why she makes the effort to smile at him when he speaks. And cuts right to the chase.]

I'll be okay.

[Voice]

[of_sablier]

[That's... oh. Jack didn't really know Bellemere, but it's clear she was someone important to Nami, and losing someone like that is never easy.]

I'm sorry to hear that.

[Action]

[inkdrops]

[Before anything - before she walks out the door in search of her friend and sister - Miyabi shuts her eyes. She shuts her eyes and clasps her hands together, uttering a prayer in her mind. She knows the implications of Nami's mother returning home, and she knows well the pain the young woman must be feeling as well. It hurts to have someone you love and cherish snatched away from you. It hurts...

After her prayer is finished - just a few short words a moment of quiet - Miyabi rushes out the door. She doesn't bother with the mallet, and instead bounds her way toward the orchard first. She's hurrying, and leaping in the longest arcs she can at her minuscule size. Somehow, though, she feels here is the best place to start.]

[Action]

[mikangirl]

[She'd be right. Nami is in the orchard, half buried in leaves and blossoms as she leans into one of her trees, picking off a few loose and broken bits of foliage. Business as usual, bar how sluggish she's being about it. And how particular.]

[Action]

[inkdrops]

[Ah. There she is. Miyabi leaps from branch to branch before she lands on the tree Nami was working with. She shouldn't be too hard to spot, but even then, Miyabi moves closer, so she matches Nami's eye level. Once she's sure the woman should be able to see her - if her mind's not too muddled with other things like Miyabi assumes - she speaks gently.]

Nami...

[Action]

[mikangirl]

[Nami's eyes shift and focus on Miyabi at that soft utterance of her name, and she blinks. Way out of it. And ah...she knows why you're here, little sister.]

Miya. It's good to see you.

[action]

[gavemyword]

[Zoro's attempt to find her had been as futile as ever and it was only by some divine act of providence that he'd managed to make it back to the house before nightfall.

He eventually settles in the living room with a big bottle of booze at his side. Don't get him wrong Nami, it's not like he got it for you or anything. But he might be willing to share some of it when you get home. Just this once.

Zoro draws Wadou from its sheathe and inspects it reverently. By all accounts, he's looking as smooth as polished silver. Take your time, Nami. He can wait.]

[action]

[mikangirl]

[It'll be pretty late by the time she gets home, and she's wrung out from crying besides. Sanji's trip up to the orchard... Bellemere's letter is slipped into the pages of her journal, folded carefully with the words inward for privacy, and the journal is clutched to her chest.

She's slow in opening the front door, moving like time is fragile. Nami closes the door after her by leaning against it, and then she doesn't move.

Every step she takes is ending the day. It's not so bad. She cherishes it, in a weird sort of way.]

[action]

[gavemyword]

[Zoro is seated nearby, swords at his side. He'd finished cleaning them hours ago and had been sitting in the dark for a while now. Anyone looking at him now would have sworn he was asleep.

But, no. He looks up at Nami's entrance. He doesn't need his eyes to feel her moving in the darkness but he looks at her anyway. Stares, seemingly unconcerned by her late arrival.]

Nami.

[action]

[mikangirl]

[It's still enough to make her jump. She wasn't expecting that; Nami squints through the gloom, trying to make him out. Her voice is thin and barely heard, but there's a ghost of her usual wryness to it:]

Third time now. You're making a habit of that.

[The fact the first two times are ones he won't remember doesn't really matter, at this point.]