[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]

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?

[ action ]

[markofthebrave]

[Eyes filled with shadows, Katara looked at Nami quietly for a long moment.]

You think I don't know that?

[ action ]

[mikangirl]

I would think you don't know it enough, if it's hurting you like this. [But Nami has never considered Katara to be that childish. So her frown grows deeper.] But I'm gathering it's a lot more complicated than that.

[ action ]

[markofthebrave]

It is. [She glanced away.] And just because you know something, doesn't stop you from feeling any differently about it.

[Like the deaths that take place here. You know they're coming back. And you still grieve.]

I can know that it's not my fault, that I shouldn't have to do anything in order to make them happy, but that doesn't stop me from looking and seeing that they're hurting, that they want something from me I can't give.

[ action ]

[mikangirl]

[Nami's quiet for a long time. Ruthlessly, she knows, the most callous answer she can give is still isn't your problem. But Katara's right. Nami knows very well how she felt when she realised how badly she'd hurt Sanji with her confession last year.

...it's something that wouldn't have bothered her at home. Their friendship here is a lot closer, isn't it?]

Are we just talking about Aang and Masaomi?

[ action ]

[markofthebrave]

[The look Katara gives Nami at that is apprehensive to the point of comedy.]

Why? I shouldn't be worrying about anyone else, right?

[ action ]

[mikangirl]

[Pfft. Look how much effort she puts into not smiling at that.] Not that I know of. Unless you think I should add Ling to the pile.