01. video

[kotatsu]

Who: Nanako Dojima
Broadcast: video (fleetwide)
Action: Marsiva
When: Oct. 29th, before bedtime

[ it's late and nanako can't sleep. it's been hard to since she woke up on the hospitality deck, and she'd spent a lot of time wandering around to try and get her bearings. she was scared and confused (still is, if she's being honest with herself), but this isn't the tv world and there's no dark shadows waiting to grab her without a moment's notice. this is at least a little better than that.

but back to the present. there's a young girl on the video feed with dark circles around her eyes, but she tries a brief smile anyway. ]

Um... hello, my name is Nanako Dojima and I'm new here. I'm sorry for not saying anything sooner.

[ doesn't that introduction sound a little familiar? maybe. ]

I've read some of the stuff on this... [ internet? network? ] network? So, I kind of know what's going on. But I have a question and if you have time, maybe you can help me?

[ she takes a deeper breath, mustering up the courage to continue. ]

At school, I read a book about a brother and a sister who went to live with a family friend because their parents had to go to war. One day, when they were playing hide and seek, they found a closet in the attic that took them to a magical world where animals could talk. They stayed there for a long time, until they became grown ups. When they decided to back through the closet, they turned back into kids again and it's like they never left at all.

So, I was wondering if this is like the story I read. Will my Dad know that I'm not at home right now? When we find our way back, will it be like I never left? He's a detective and works really late most of the time, so I don't want him to worry about me.

But, um, thank you for listening... Oh! I was assigned to the SS Three Twins! It's nice to meet you and I'll do my best in lab support.

Comments

video.

[truthvalue]

[It's late, but the kitchen still needs to be cleaned for tomorrow morning, so that's where Souji is, still, tirelessly working away. And he only hears this familiar voice at first, because his comm device is sitting out on the counter, and there's a moment where he thinks maybe he's imagined it, the way he used to imagine hearing her in the house after she was first gone and he hadn't yet adjusted to her absence.

But no - this isn't a phantom trick of his tired mind. He drops the handful of silverware he's halfway through putting away and snatches the device off the counter, and his eyes go wide as saucers, and his heart stops for a split second.

It's Nanako. And she's alive. It's weird; for all he's experienced of the multiverse and different versions of himself and people he knows, not once did it ever cross his mind that he might see Nanako again.

Before he really has time for his brain to catch up with his heart, Souji is both smiling widely and blinking back tears. Nanako is alive, and she's here.

Souji takes a few deep breaths to compose himself before sending a reply, just a simple video feed of his own face.]

Hello, Nanako.

[There's always a chance she won't know him, of course. The time he waits for her response seems to stretch out forever.]

(not here) 1/2

[kotatsu]

[ nanako didn't go back through the network very far, as she's still trying to get accustomed to her communicator. it's very different from the simple phone they have at the house and nanako is still nervous about accidentally breaking it. so seeing souji's face and hearing his voice surprises her; she didn't think she'd be able to see him again so soon! and in space, of all places.

immediately, all the worry and fear from the past few days melt away and she has to take a moment to calm down before she starts crying again. that's no way to greet big bro, after all. she's a big girl now, and big girls don't cry. ]

video.

[kotatsu]

[ when she does respond, it's with her biggest smile, the brightest one yet since she arrived on marsiva. ]

Big Bro! Y-You're here!

[ ... okay, maybe she still needs another moment. she's just so excited (and she can't deny it). ]

Where are you? The last time I saw you was when you were getting on the train to the city! Were you here for a long time?

video.

[truthvalue]

[Big Bro. That's all he needs to hear; she's alive, and she knows him. Souji feels his heart racing high up in his throat, and he nods to her. Yes, he's here too. They're both here; they're here together. And he can't help his own smile widening at the sight of hers, infectious - it's one of the things, he realizes, that he's missed the most about her being gone.]

I'm in the kitchen. [She saw him getting on the train. He hears this, but it doesn't fully register, not just yet. There's too much excitement buzzing in his head - Nanako is here, Nanako is alive.] I haven't been here very long - maybe a month. Where are you?

[He's already walking out the door; the video feed jostles as he moves.]

Action

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[Wanda was out and about on the Marsiva right now. It's getting late, and she was certainly feeling tired herself. However, her recent glitch had left her still rather wary about going to sleep. So far, things had not been nearly as bad as a few weeks ago. However, she was still getting a few nightmares some nights. As she's debating whether or not to go back to her room and try to sleep, she spies a little girl looking rather scared and confused. Since she doesn't recognize the girl right away, and judging from her frightened bewilderment, it seemed safe to assume that she was new to the fleet. Poor girl, this must all be a bit much for someone her age to take in all of a sudden. Wanda approaches the girl slowly with a comforting smile, being sure to make her presence known. The last thing she wants to do is startle the little girl.]

Hello.

Action

[kotatsu]

[ she looks up when she hears wanda's voice, blinking up in surprise. she didn't think anyone was still up at this hour. don't talk to strangers, she hears dojima remind her. but everyone here is a stranger, and if she's going to work with them, she'll have to talk to them eventually.

besides, this lady seems nice and not to mention very pretty. nanako returns wanda's smile, approaching her a little shyly. ]

... 'Lo.

[notmutantbutmiracle]

[Wanda crouches down to Nanako's eye-level.]

I take it that you must be a little confused right now as to where you are and what's going on, yes?

action

[incousinswithyou]

[oh no, it's a small child. Atroma will stoop to anything, it looks like.

Michiru was in the middle of making her rounds. It's probably futile, but sitting and reading a book is too complacent.]

Are you alright?

action

[kotatsu]

[ nanako jumps a little when she hears a new voice, whirling around to see who it is. she doesn't recognize michiru, but she seems like someone who has a lot of authority. then again, she assumes this of most people older than her. ]

Um, y-yes, I'm fine. I'm sorry for wandering around... I couldn't sleep.

[incousinswithyou]

[oh geez. She crouches and offers a smile.]

That's okay. My name is Michiru. What's yours?

Video

[jamminshield]

[Steven is trying not to tear up as he listens to her story, and he's only partly succeeding.]

I- I think I read that one too! It's okay. It's okay!! This is a m-magical journey just like that. Just in space! I heard that there's even a talking pony somewhere.

S-so please don't worry! It's gonna be okay and your dad's not gonna worry! [Although that's mostly wishful thinking. Really, Steven is thinking the same about his own dad and extra moms.]

Video

[kotatsu]

[ wait a goddamn minute. ]

Th-There's a talking pony here?

Video

[jamminshield]

Yep! I haven't met him yet, but that's what word on the street says.

...

Space-street...

Video

[onlyanapple]

[Well, this is a sight for sore eyes. Crowley's tone is a lot more gentle than he uses with most people. She's special.]

Been a while, Nanako.

It'll be like you never left [probably] you've got nothing to worry about.

1/2 (not here)

[kotatsu]

[ another person who recognizes her, even though she doesn't remember meeting him. there were two already, allen and ino; nanako wonders how many more friends she's forgotten. ]

video

[kotatsu]

[ what is the right thing to say? both ino and allen weren't mad when she told them the truth, so maybe crowley won't be mad either. maybe he'll still want to be friends. ]

Okay, I'm glad Dad won't have to worry. Thank you for telling me.

[ did she used to call him crowley, or mister crowley? mister crowley sounds too formal, though.

anyway, it's always better to tell the truth, isn't it? so, gently, carefully: ]

Um... I'm sorry, I met you earlier, right? Ino told me that I met some people here from before, but I don't really remember meeting anyone. I'm sorry I forgot, but is it... okay if we start over?

video

[onlyanapple]

No problem, kiddo.

[At least he doesn't SOUND that upset.]

It's fine, Nanako. It's par for the course, forgetting. My name's Crowley.

the latest video

[experiencepoints]

[Nightingale has to raise an eyebrow when she sees this video. This kid has to be younger than even Eagle was, and she's been brought here? And... Well, she's asking the tough questions already.]

Hey. It seems like people won't be aware you left when you return, or so I'm hearing. Apparently, people won't even age in these sorts of places, so no one will be able to tell that way, either.

shhhh never late

[kotatsu]

[ wait a minute. ]

Huh? We can't age?

[ no.................... ]

A-Am I gonna be seven forever?

[video]

[summerschild]

Is that story true?

[Bran is uncertain, but there are stranger stories in his world that are meant to be true. After all, legends have to begin somewhere.]

[video]

[kotatsu]

I don't know. I didn't think so, my teacher said it was fiction, so it's like a fairy tale.

[ then again, she didn't think it'd be possible to get shoved into a tv, or get kidnapped into space. so. ]

But maybe it could be.

video;

[ino]

Ehh? You're on the Three Twins, Nanako-chan?

video;

[kotatsu]

Yeah! I'm in lab support. Are you on the Three Twins too?

video

[cpt_ressentiment]

[ Oh my God is this really happening...!!

While he's listening to Nanako's broadcast, Yosuke is, admittedly, having a minor little freak-out about the fact that she's here, because this place is bad news and it's Nanako and she doesn't need to be subjected to this and fsjdkl!! But after a few seconds of spinning around in his own head, and once she's finished her broadcast, he immediately answers, turning on the video feed and easily giving her the biggest smile he's given anyone in a very, very long time. ]

Heeeey, Nanako-chan! You're here!

[ He might be worried about things, but... he really is very, very glad to see her. ]

video

[kotatsu]

[ she's freaking out just as much because she didn't expect to see yosuke here too. for her, it was only a few days ago when she last saw him while sending off souji to the train station, but she's obviously relieved at seeing another familiar face.

yosuke's smile never fails to coax one out of her too, and just like with souji earlier, she feels all the worry and apprehension fade away. ]

Hi, Yosuke! You're here too! We can all be together now!