mikangirl | [Action/Voice] Forward dated to the 19th

[Action/Voice] Forward dated to the 19th

[Nami comes back to Luceti with a bang.

...literally. Because the first indication of her arrival on the networks is her journal hitting a tree at high velocity. The journal window won't pick up more than a whole bunch of dizzily swirling forest scenery and then a bare, reddened foot as she kicks it afterwards for good measure. Then she just abandons it in the grass and stalks off. Incredibly useful contribution to the journals, isn't it? Sorry about that.

She's not really in any hurry to go home, and in no hurry to go announcing herself through town, but she is cold. So after some indecision, she heads for the Avatar house instead, knocking hesitantly on the door in her New Feather dress in search of warmth and other things.

A little while later, having borrowed a coat and some shoes and feeling a little more herself, she heads for home, letting herself in quietly and... sort of standing there and listening for voices, noise, anything. Then she'll come say hi. Sort of.

Whether she stays there or not after that, who knows? But she does eventually make a journal entry in the evening, borrowing someone else's. She's not cruel enough to pretend she's not here when there are friends in town.]

[Voice]

Shirahoshi, are you still here? I remember you, now. Just thought I’d let you know.

For everyone else... hi. I'm back. Again. All that. Business as usual, I guess.

[She sounds cheerful enough. Just tired.]

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[It probably won't help her concentration much at all when Vivi's bedroom door is flung back-- a little more violently than Nami intended, sorry, Vivi. Her face is drained of colour, but after a moment where her hands twitch into fists and her gaze sweeps across the room, her eyes fasten on Vivi with an expression akin to relief and just a little chagrin.]

--Vivi. You're still--

...hey.

[The door being slammed open makes Vivi jump--people normally don't just come barging in here. Already startled by that, she swears for a moment her heart actually stops once she sees who it is that's come in so bombastically.]

[Indeed, for a little while it almost feels like she's forgotten to breathe, though it's probably only and instant before she gasps in a sharp breath.] N-Nami-san! [Perhaps it was in part due to the painful circumstances around the time Nami was sent home, but Vivi had really not expected to see her friend again in Luceti. She hadn't even harbored a secret, selfish hope that Nami would return. She'd said her goodbyes, and she'd come to terms with it.]

[Luceti has a way of throwing curveballs, though. Vivi doesn't know whether to laugh or cry. She feels like doing both. She does neither. Really, she can't manage to do much of anything at all for the moment but sit there with a gobsmacked expression on her face. Welcome back, Nami.]

[......
.......
......

......okay in some distant way, Nami thinks that look is hilarious. It's just a weird sort of jarring to her nerves because of where she's just come from, and so her small, high escaping laugh is part amusement and part pure adrenalin and high emotion, and so she cuts it off within half a second.

And smiles instead, a little strained and sheepish though it may be. But there's so much genuine warmth and chagrin in her eyes. Vivi she knows through and through. At least she gets to see her friend again.]

Sorry.

Miss me?

[That breaks the spell, and Vivi jumps to her feet with such speed her desk chair threatens to tip over.] Of course! But I-- [She bridges the gap to Nami in an instance for a hug, though her hold is curiously loose at first, almost as if she fears touching her friend will cause her to disappear.] I didn't think you'd be back. [And soon enough that hug has become tighter, now feeling more like Vivi is afraid to let go lest Nami fade away. Vivi shakes her head gently.]

I should have known better. [Yet, beneath the surprise and genuine joy she feels at seeing Nami again, there is sorrow, even a touch of anger. They've pulled her back again. Vivi would gladly have gone without seeing Nami again so soon, as long as it meant she wouldn't have to return to this place that's done so much to try and break her.]

Can't really stay away, it seems. [Nami's so relieved when Vivi hugs her, because if she missed anything at all it's having her so close by. Her returning embrace is tight, and a little taut with anger that's still winding down, but the warmth and comfort does much to help, and she rests her head on Vivi's shoulder with a small smile.]

I'm glad I get to see you again. It's ...really weird, coming back from home and remembering. [That you weren't there.]

[Vivi can feel some of that tension in Nami's embrace, though only faintly, and she probably wouldn't have made note of it at all--except it reminds her of the state Nami was in when she entered. At the time she'd been too shocked at seeing Nami at all to recognize the signs of her high emotion. She seems calmer now, but what had that been about? Anger at the Malnosso for pulling her back here yet again?]

[She doesn't break the hug, but loosens her arms a little, angling her head to try and see Nami's face--not very successfully in this position.] Did something happen? [The question is carefully vague; even Vivi's not quite sure what she's asking after, but just moments earlier, Nami had clearly been upset. And the next question tumbles out immediately before Nami has a chance to answer the first:]

How long was it this time? [Strange how this was almost becoming a routine here.]

[She's glad the second question tumbles out. Does that give her an excuse to avoid the first? She wonders. Let's hope so. Nami smiles wryly, and gives a small shake of her head.]

I think I was only gone for a week or two. Just enough time to move on to the next island and get in over our heads there instead.

[Vivi has to take a moment to remind herself of when Nami had come from before--with all the coming and going amongst the crew, it's easy to get a little jumbled up.] From near the time Luffy-san last came from, I suppose? [Though Luffy hadn't told her too much about his last trip home.]

He mentioned something about...a clown? [She doesn't sound all that certain. Honestly, she really wasn't sure she'd understood him correctly, but the major update he'd given her had seemed to involve fighting a clown. And, for the moment, her earlier question has indeed been forgotten.]

Oh. Yeah. Caesar Clown. [And just like that, Nami diverts the last of her bad mood into a snort of derision at CC's expense.] Newest jerk of the day. Mad scientist that likes experimenting on kids. Luffy'll kick his ass.

I'm not sure if I'm just ahead or just behind. if I am ahead, it can't be by more than a few hours.

[Hm, that's a pretty narrow timeframe. Vivi can only assume that whatever's going on there must be happening pretty fast. And there was something else...]

Oh no! Are they all right? [Meaning the kids, of course. Experimenting on children--sadly, that sounds more than a little familiar, given the Malnosso don't seem to discriminate by age.]

[Nami smiles at Vivi reassuringly.] Just as soon as we can get them out of there. [Now is not the time to mention they're all racing against the clock with poisonous gas, is it? But Nami's pretty sure they'll be okay at this point.] Luffy's gone to deal with Caesar, and most of us are are looking after the children. They'll be fine.

That's a relief. [And if Nami isn't worried, Vivi isn't worried. It sounds like they have things well in hand back home--and considering what Sanji told her happened on Fishman Island, this is probably a cakewalk in comparison.]

Did you just get back? [She can't imagine Nami has been here long, though she's managed to find something to wear other than the unseasonable new feather dress. Still, the clothing looks a bit ill-fitting. Vivi's as least closer to her size.] Would you like to borrow some clothes until you can pick yours up again?

...yeah, actually. If you wouldn't mind. Then maybe we could go shopping in a bit? Get out of the house, spend some time together. That kind of thing. [She'd like to leave this house now, honestly, while she can just hear that violin music on the edge of her hearing. Nami shrugs off Katara's coat.] I suppose that's one fun thing about being back. I can never knock back a trip for clothes.

[Vivi pulls open her closet door and makes a small gesture toward it.] Help yourself! Shopping would be nice. [More for the sake of spending time together than because Vivi actually needs anything for herself. Moodwise, Nami seems to be in much better shape than she was when she left Luceti, which is more than a little reassuring, and goes a long way toward lifting Vivi's mood as well. It seems like it's been too long since the two of them had been able to spend some lighthearted time together, and with Nami's suggestion, Vivi jumps at the chance.]

Maybe afterward we could stop in to Seventh Heaven and get something to eat. Sanji-san's away on a mission just now, but--oh! Have you had a chance to see any of the others yet? [It belatedly occurs to her that if Nami just returned, it may not be fair to monopolize her time, especially if she hasn't had a chance to check in with the rest of the crew yet.]

Edited 2013-01-30 17:02 (UTC)

[Nami starts rummaging through Vivi's wardrobe, her movements slowing at the news about Sanji. That explains his absence...

...she's not sure yet whether she's relieved or disappointed at that. They'll have to put off talking a while longer.]

I've seen Brook. [So neutral. And a little more warmly:] And Nojiko. She was the first person I heard when I came in. [And she pulls out a warm-looking deep purple jumper and finds a pair of jeans to go with it. Cold out there.] Luffy and Zoro, not so much... but I haven't tried talking on the network yet, so I guess they don't know I'm here.

[...she hesitates again, and then strips off the coat, pulling Katara's sweater off (to show the unfashionable white dress beneath) and asking the next question in the process, voice muffled.]

Zoro's back?

[It takes Vivi a moment to register that question, since she's first slapping a palm to her forehead and berating herself for forgetting something so important.] Ahh, I'm sorry; I should've mentioned Nojiko-san to you right away--! [Well, Nami had already discovered her sister's presence, so...maybe no harm done. And...what had she just asked?]

Oh. Yes. [Her expression turns a touch more somber.] He was gone for a long time--longer than that usually lasts, and I-- [She pauses to take a slow breath, shaking her head.] He's back now. He says he went back home, for a little while. Not as long as the rest of you. [From the events he'd described, it sounded like he was very near the same time Vivi had come here from.]

[Nami lets that news soak in, and closes her eyes unseen under the layers as she strips the dress off, too.]

That's something, I guess. [The reply is almost lost under the cloth, so quiet and vacant it sounds. But the dress is off, and Nami unabashedly helps herself to one of Vivi's prettier shirts before sliding the jeans on, looking a little more fashionable.] And how are you?

[Because you weren't so healthy when she left.]

Ah...much better, now. [Perhaps she wasn't quite back in peak physical condition, but the lingering weakness had passed, and she was able to get back to her regular routine.]

I suppose it was just a lot to recover from, so it took a while...

[She's honestly not sure what to say to that. The guilt went away for a week or two, didn't it? Back and as fresh as ever. If she hadn't screwed up, Vivi would never have been put in that position to begin with.]

...mmm.

[But she's also not dense. And selfishly, Nami would rather not think about that right now, in the wake of certain greetings. Maybe they can have fun and both try and put the whole thing behind them. She'll find a way to apologise for it later.]

Well, as long as you've got the energy for an extended shopping trip. [Back on goes the coat.] Shall we?

[Vivi doesn't miss the pained expression that passes over Nami's face, but seeing as how it doesn't linger, she leaves it unremarked. Perhaps that would be different if she knew Nami was blaming herself, however abstractly, for what happened, but since mind-reading isn't one of her talents, she remains unaware.] Yes, I'm fine.

[She smiles, reaching up to refasten her ponytail neatly, then heads from her room to the entryway where her own coat is hanging.] Clothes shop first?

[It's all right. It's not a guilt she'll be burdened by for decades. It's...just a reminder to do better next time.]

Clothes shop first. If I'm going to be stuck here again, let's make sure I'm stuck here in style.

[Vivi nods with a laugh. Sounds like a plan. Maybe this is just a temporary distraction, but the idea of throwing themselves into some light fun is much more appealing than other alternatives right now.]

Of course! I could get some things myself... [Fashion isn't exactly a high priority for the princess, but heck, it's not as if she dislikes clothes shopping. She giggles, holding up a finger.] Maybe we should each pick out an outfit for each other. That would be fun, wouldn't it?

You think so? [Nami taps a fingernail to her chin, looking deep in thought.] Ahhh, well. I trust your judgment. The question is, do you trust mine?

[So innocent.]

Of course I do! [Immediate answer. Nami's always been more fashionable than she has. Vivi thinks Nami's normally quite stylish, and in cool weather like this, she doubts her friend would pick out anything too skimpy for her to wear--that being the one point where Vivi is a little unsure, preferring a more modest look for herself.]

[She giggles and impulsively links arms with Nami, glad to have her friend close at hand again.] It'll be a lot of fun. [Nod.]

[Action/Voice] Forward dated to the 19th

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