driftfleet | 01. video

Entry tags:

01. video

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.

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[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.]

[ 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. ]

[ 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?

[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.]

[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.

[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?

[ that makes two of them, because once she hears "i'm in the kitchen", she's immediately taking off towards it. ]

Okay, I'll meet you there!

[ who will find the other one first? let's find out. ]

[Well ... if they're both on the move, they may miss each other. Souji comes to a halt outside the entrance to the kitchen and dining area, alert for the first sign of tiny pigtails headed his way.

It almost seems too good to be true. He almost doesn't want to let himself believe this is really happening until he sees her in person - not just on the video screen - until he can hold her in his arms.]

Edited 2015-10-30 01:21 (UTC)

[ good thinking, souji. he'll spot her heading his way soon enough and when she sees him, she immediately runs up and throws her arms around him in a fierce hug. she clings to his shirt, twisting her fingers into the fabric and pressing her face against his torso.

her voice is muffled, but she doesn't look up, afraid he'll leave again. ]

I missed you, Big Bro.

[ 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.

[ 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.

[Souji starts blinking back tears again the second she comes into sight. It's too much - he feels the force of her tiny hands in his shirt, and he feels like everything inside is suddenly expanding to the point of bursting. It's hard to breathe, like the air's all gone from the room.

But Nanako is alive. She's alive and she's here, and he has a second chance to make sure she stays safe. That's what's important.

Souji carefully crouches to the floor so he's at her eye level, both hands going to her shoulders. He hesitates to touch her for a moment, as if he thinks she might crumble to dust before his eyes. But that moment passes; he smiles, and gently pulls her in closer to him, wrapping her up in a warm embrace.]

I missed you too, Nanako.

[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?

[ when he pulls her closer, she goes willingly, wrapping her small arms around his shoulders instead and pressing her face against his shoulder. she thinks if she actually looks him in the eye, she'll start bawling and that's no good.

but eventually, she does pull away a little, rubbing her eyes with one hand as she takes a deep breath. ]

I'm glad you're okay! I didn't think I'd see you here...

Um... a little bit. But someone told me a few things earlier and I read some older posts on the network, so I kind of know what's going on.

[ she fidgets with the hem of her dress for a moment before speaking up again. ]

I still think it's weird that we're all on television.

I didn't think I'd see you either.

[Anywhere, ever again. She doesn't need to know that, though. Souji rests a hand on her back, rubbing slow, comforting circles.]

But I'm really glad to see you, Nanako. Did you just get here today?

N-No, I got here a few days ago... I was on the hospitality deck.

[ the feeling of his hand on her back is so familiar that it immediately calms her down, wiping away the last of her tears. ]

But um, they said that I'm going to be on the SS Three Twins as lab support, so I have to go there next. What ship are you on, Big Bro?

[Wanda raises her eyebrows in surprise. She had clearly underestimated this little girl. What a resourceful child she was.]

That was a smart move. I do not think I had quite so level a head when I first arrived.

[Wanda's smile grows a little bigger as she giggles a little at her own self-deprecating comment. Well, it was certainly true, and she figures the compliment and joke might help but the girl a little more at ease.]

It is all rather weird, yes. Though it is often quite easy to forget that everything is being televised at all. But we do receive a few reminders from time to time.

[Wanda's tone stays calm and reassuring, but it does grow a little more serious.]

Are you truly not frightened by any of this? It is okay to be. If you have questions, I would be happy to answer them.

[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.]

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

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

[ it's what happens when you have a detective for a dad. you pick up on some things. that, and the fact that she might have watched one too many episodes of crime drama shows on tv.

but nanako nods a little at her question. ]

... I am scared. I miss my Dad and I want to go home. But we still have to find a way back, right?

Edited 2015-10-30 21:52 (UTC)

[ wow she's really pretty. ]

I'm Nanako... Nanako Dojima. It's nice to meet you, Michiru-san.

[ wait a goddamn minute. ]

Th-There's a talking pony here?

[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.

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

...

Space-street...

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