[Voice/Action]

[mikangirl]

[Nami's had quite enough of sleeping. It's kind of disconcerting to be told it's now September, and it doesn't help that she's spent the time since Ling's rude wake-up call still sleeping most of her day away. So tired, all the time. Prone to falling asleep mid-shower, and that is annoying, to say the least.

Oh, well. A week has gone past and she can finally get through most of the day with no problems, so Nami takes advantage of the fact that there is no Chopper to tell her otherwise (and no Katara or Law at the house at the time) to sneak up to the orchard and see how it's fared in her near-two-month absence.

...huh. Been hot lately, she sees. And a lot less mikan up here than she was expecting. Nothing too alarming, and the place seems okay otherwise, pinwheels and all. Someone even fixed her cottage door, lookit that.

Welp. Observant villagers might see the low-lying rainclouds to the northeast of the village, a tiny little storm that barely covers an acre. It's too hot today anyway, may as well take advantage of the fact that she can cheat.]

[Voice]

Thanks, whoever fixed my door. Did you take some of the fruit as payment or should I blame someone else for that?

[Tell her what she's missed, Luceti.]

Comments

[ action ]

[markofthebrave]

[Katara laughs a little. Oh, Nami.]

And if you didn't feel vindicated?

[ action ]

[mikangirl]

Then at least they weren't taking advantage of me. Though I bet Sanji-kun had other ideas on that score.

[She...really feels kinda bad for him. Even if thoughts of how Sanji dealt with princes in his living room is also somewhat...amusing >>]

[ action ]

[markofthebrave]

No... they just wanted to help.

[Though Ling DID get a date out of it.]

[ action ]

[mikangirl]

[She doesn't know that part >_>]

I know. I spoke to both of them earlier. Even apologised to Ling for hitting him.

[ action ]

[markofthebrave]

That was nice of you. He's not that bad a guy, really.

[ action ]

[mikangirl]

I don't think he likes me very much. [She got vibes from their conversation. But Nami doesn't overly mind.]

[ action ]

[markofthebrave]

Well, you did punch him. I think you broke his nose.

[ action ]

[mikangirl]

He was kissing me. [Pout. But she can't hold it for long, one corner of her mouth turning up.] I don't know, I think waking up to find some guy in your face is a little surprising. He's probably lucky that's all I did. Or that nobody else got involved. [Sanji.]

[ action ]

[markofthebrave]

He was waking you up. He's really not a bad guy.

[...]

But I would have been upset if I'd woken up to someone kissing me too.

[ action ]

[mikangirl]

Oh, I know he isn't. I'm just saying I can't be held responsible for behaving like any normal girl would.

[ action ]

[markofthebrave]

Any normal girl who floored the guy and broke his nose after sleeping for weeks?

[Sure, Nami. You're totally normal. Not awesome at all.]

[ action ]

[mikangirl]

Exactly! [YUP.]

So is he a friend of yours?

[ action ]

[markofthebrave]

Not exactly. But we went to school together, and we've talked a few times.

[...]

I think we know each other a little better now.

[ action ]

[mikangirl]

Hoohh, he's that young...? [She considers that, and then her eyes flick to Katara measuringly.] And does he think you're cute, too?

[ action ]

[markofthebrave]

"Too?"

[Whatchutalkin' about, Nami?]

[ action ]

[mikangirl]

Don't look at me so innocently, Katara. You have to know by now there are apparently boys falling all over themselves in order to spend time with you.

[ action ] 1/2

[markofthebrave]

[Though Nami doubtless meant it as a tease, it makes Katara feel sick to hear something like that. There is a lot of pain here, and it's visible in her eyes behind a veneer of calm. Or at least it was until she looked down.]

That's - completely different.

[ action ]

[markofthebrave]

But yes. [She looks up and smiles a little.] Ling does think I'm cute. He even asked me out. He was very nice about it, actually.

[ action ]

[mikangirl]

[Well, the smile is gone from Nami's face. She didn't mean to hit a nerve.]

...it bothers you.

[ action ]

[markofthebrave]

[Well, she could avoid talking about this, but... she'd missed Nami. And it wasn't as though Aang and Masaomi made much of a secret of it.]

There's a lot about the situation that's... complicated and painful. [She shook her head slightly.] So yes. It bothers me.

[ action ]

[mikangirl]

[Katara says complicated and painful and Nami immediately thinks of Aang. Where does Masaomi come into it? She frowns faintly, but takes another bite of her icecream and leans back into her chair.]

Tell me about it. [It isn't sarcasm, in this case. It's a genuine request.] Maybe I can help.

[ action ]

[markofthebrave]

[Just say it.

It hurts to say it.

Get it over with.]

They love me. [It's abjectly miserable.] And I don't love them the way that they want me to.

[ action ]

[mikangirl]

[...hooboy. She's quiet for a long moment, chewing over what to say.]

You're not a very selfish person, are you?

[ action ]

[markofthebrave]

What do you mean? What does that have to do with anything?

[ action ]

[mikangirl]

I'm going to be brutal for just a second here. [And despite saying such, her tone is gentle.]

You can't help how other people feel about you, and how they feel shouldn't obligate you to do anything for them. Don't laugh at them, by all means, but... it isn't your fault or your problem.

They're still your friends, right?