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

[truthvalue]

[Well ... he didn't want to assume. He knows Nanako was used to taking care of herself, before Souji came to stay with her and Dojima. She's independent, and capable ... but the knowledge doesn't make Souji worry about her any less, all things considered.]

I'd like that, Nanako. We'll find out. Right now, we're all on the same ship.

[They're together again. He smiles; it's something he's wanted so badly for months now.]

That's good, that he was nice to you. Why don't you tell me what you'll do in lab support?

1/2

[kotatsu]

[ it's true she can take care of herself, but she's still very new to the fleet and she knows she'd feel a lot more at home if she was in the same ship as souji. she'll have to ask ino about switching when she gets the chance. ]

He said I'm gonna be a nurse! I don't know if I'll be good at it, but he said that there's a lot of other people that're in lab support too, so I can always ask them for help.

[kotatsu]

[ speaking of, now that they're together and she's got a better view of him: ]

Big Bro... are you okay? [ she lifts a hand to the scar on his cheek, but hesitates in touching it, her hand falling on his shoulder instead. ] Did you get hurt earlier?

[truthvalue]

[Oh ... right. That. Souji is almost able to forget about the scar on his face most of the time - it doesn't hurt (though he thinks it probably should) and most people don't notice, or don't comment on it if they do. The tips of his fingers come up to trace over the thin line, and he give Nanako a reassuring smile.]

It's OK, Nanako. It doesn't hurt. I was ...

[He hesitates; how much of that story does Nanako need to know? She might not take well to knowing Souji was a demon, albeit temporarily. It's been months since it happened, as far as he can tell, but the guilt of his evil deeds still weighs heavily on him.]

There was a fight. I was in it, but I wasn't hurt too badly.

[He'd been on the hurting end of that fight, for the most part.]

[kotatsu]

Oh...

[ it looks like it hurt a lot, though. nanako remembers seeing one of her classmates skin his knee after school and needed a band-aid. she wonders if souji was able to get a band-aid too. ]

I saw my classmate's mom give him a kiss once when he got hurt. They said it's supposed to make you feel better. Do you think that would make you feel better, Big Bro?

[truthvalue]

[Oh, Nanako. It's uncanny, how she's always able to find the exact perfect thing to say. Souji feels a tightening in his chest, a stinging in his eyes as he blinks back the tears forming there, but he smiles at her and simply nods. Yes. He would feel much better. He already feels much better, now that she's here.]

[kotatsu]

[ once he nods, she leans in to press a light kiss on his cheek, right above the scar. ]

There! All better!

[truthvalue]

[Souji smiles at her, inhaling a quick breath, and nods again.]

All better.

[And in this moment, he means it - everything is better, if just for that moment.]

sorry for the delay!

[kotatsu]

I'm glad I made you feel better, Big Bro!

[ she giggles, obviously pleased with herself. ]

Next time, I'll give you a band-aid too.

always all good <3

[truthvalue]

[Souji just hopes there won't be a next time to contend with. One round of life as a demon who delighted in doing awful things was bad enough.]

Are you hungry, Nanako? There's some food in the kitchen.