asgardmeridiem | [Closed] One, two, three, not only you and me.

Your favourite place. [ He definitely looks as if he has more questions to ask, as if his mind is running a mile-a-minute. ]

Would you take me to your favourite place here?

My favourite place? [She looks a bit puzzled.] I guess I never really thought of one. I like Heimdall House, because I feel comfortable there. I like my workplace, because I get to sew again. But I don't think that's what you mean.

[She glances at the map again, then nods.]

We should go to Gefion Park. It's peaceful there.

[ He pockets one of his hands, giving a grateful sigh. ]

Thanks... this ended up being more uncomfortable than I thought it would be. So I just wanted to go to someplace nice, next.

[ He gives another troubled, sympathetic look over to the faceless people. ]

Do they even have names?

I've - never asked. [And she looks troubled at that, too. She cares about them, but she hasn't even asked their names.] I work for some of them, but they never offered any names. I just never even thought of it.

[She shakes off the chill that gives her and starts to walk, glancing over her shoulder to urge him along.]

C'mon. The park's really nice. There's a petting zoo and a lake - no flowers yet, of course, but it's still pretty.

[ His line of vision lingers on them for only a moment more, before he turns to follow Nakama.

He begins to map out that they're walking from the Loki District to the Baldr, and so takes care to mentally recall all turns and paths, so he won't need the map much in the near future.

Silence is allowed to fall around them like snow as his eyes stay glued to the map, apparently lost in processing what he just saw. ]

[The silence makes her uneasy again, so she glances over at him while they're walking, her gaze naturally falling at about his shoulder. That draws her eyes down to the map, though, so she realizes what he's doing and allows him his concentration. Without that realization, she might've begun nattering to fill the silence.

Given this opportunity, though, she looks up at his face for a moment. She's still a bit stunned by his looks, by the fact that a man can be so pretty and delicate but not look like less of a man. She doesn't quite know if he's appealing to her, but he is fascinating to look at.

Then, fearful that he'll catch her staring, she looks away again.]

[ In his peripheral he sees this, and looks over at her with a smile that feigns ignorance to any staring he just received. ]

I apologize for the silence... I was just thinking. There's so much to ponder about a place like this, so many new questions arise with every bit of information.

[ He sighs a bit helplessly, giving an accepting shrug. ]

I don't want to overwhelm you, though. I understand that it can make the mood... quite heavy. It's nice enough for you to be my tour guide for the day. I needed the company.

Oh, no, don't apologise. [Firmly.] I know how it is. I came from a world I barely understood to a world I understand even less... all you can do is think and come up with theories, and they're not always nice.

[The fact that she's given him something with such little effort makes her smile quietly, though.] It's no problem. The park's right up ahead, look.

[They were walking in silence for longer than she realized, because there's the gate to Gefion Park ahead of them. The lake and boat house are visible in the distance, along with the petting zoo, and closer up stand the eight-legged horses with their carriages waiting for someone to pull along.]

[ Johan looks ahead to the gates of the park, folding the map as he does. ]

Have any interest in riding that carriage?

Oh, sure. Namine and I took that ride last time we were here, it's really nice. It gives you a good view of the park.

[His marked lack of reaction makes her curious.]

Have you seen eight-legged horses before...?

[ At that, Johan's words start out with a small bout of laughter. ]

No, no. I haven't. It's not an attractive sight, I must say, but in a place like this I'm expecting anything out of the ordinary. [ Still, he doesn't look very concerned with the anomaly, other than a vague glance of interest. Mostly, he's keeping his eyes on Nakama. ]

Have you explored all of the areas but the bar, then?

You're adjusting really fast. [A slightly admiring look.] Most people - well, I was still being shocked by things for days, anyway.

[That steady, clear blue gaze makes her flush a little, but she does her best to return it.]

No, I haven't seen the spa, either. It's... girly stuff, nails and facials and stuff like that, and I can't spend my money on that. I'm saving for a sewing machine. [No makeup, easy ponytail, bulky sweater and jeans - she's got very little interest in being girly, and it shows.]

I see. That's very practical of you. [ He walks through the gate with her, pace holding no sense of urgency. ]

It's nice when people don't concern themselves with such frivolities. Especially in a place like this.

[ Johan slows as they approach the spider-horse creatures. ]

[She doesn't respond to that, but there's a glow about her - she likes being described as practical. It's one of her touchstones, after all, practicality.

There's a grey, faceless driver waiting for them at the head of the carriage. She frowns a bit at that after their earlier conversation, but it's fleeting; she's determined to make this a nice outing, not drag it down with information about her world like she always does.]

[ Johan takes a step in front of Nakama, stopping as they reach the carriage. He holds his hand out to the faceless driver, greeting him with a smile. ]

Hello. My name... is Johan. This is my friend, Nakama. It's a lovely day, isn't it? We were looking to see if we could be given a ride.

[ The faceless driver pays Johan almost no mind, and a heavy, awkward silence follows as Johan's hand slowly retracts back into his pocket. ]

I - I think you just climb in and he starts driving. [She is absolutely mortified for him, even though she knows he'll probably handle it gracefully.] It was... nice of you to try talking to him, though.

... [ He stares directly at the man for several seconds, the warmth on his face unfaltering, though his body language seems to tense a bit. ] He hears me. [ He pockets the map in his coat, stepping in close to inspect the man. ] He hears me. That's all that matters, isn't it? [ It's not clear whether he's speaking to her, or to the driver now. ]

[Despite the warmth in Johan's voice, there's something a little unsettling about that close scrutiny, and the way his body tenses up. He's not intending violence, of course he isn't, so why does she feel an odd chill?]

Do - you want to get in now? [In a small, nervous voice.]

[ Johan looks at the contours of his face. Though there is no expression, he is trying to make out a countenance, through the bone structure. Trying to imagine what features were once there. ]

Yes. Just a moment, please.

[ Johan sifts through the bag that is slung over his shoulder for a brief moment, adjusting so it's now more in front of his body than resting at his side. ]

I think talking to him helps him. He probably can't express it, Nakama. But no one wants to just be used for their services.

[ Still rummaging. ]

[She stands back politely, waiting to see what'll happen. Is Johan going to offer him a cookie? No, that's silly, but she can't think of what else he could be doing.

She also feels a bit guilty for just stepping into the cart last time without saying anything to him. Johan really is thoughtful when it comes to these grey people.]

I never thought of it before...

Don't feel bad.

[ He holds out a notebook and a pen to the faceless man, who doesn't react much to it. So Johan clips the pen by its cap to the notebook, and drops it in the man's lap. ]

I'll come back for this in three days. I hope you've written something in it. Anything about yourself.

[ He looks back at Nakama and walks over to the cart, settling himself in beside her. ]

No, I should've thought of it. [Sitting with her hands folded in her lap as the carriage pulls out.] I've been invisible before. How many people might've thought I just didn't want anyone to talk to me?

[She glances over at him, helpless.]

It's hard to learn from your own life, isn't it? It's so much easier to learn from what you see other people do. But that's not the important part.

[ He meets her eyes, reassuring. ]

We don't want to be a bother to anybody. Sometimes, we do what we can to avoid discomfort. There's nothing initially wrong with that, not at all.

[ His look turns more sympathetic, now, as he rests his one elbow on the edge of the cart. ]

Being ignored is a terrible thing, but being noticed for something that makes you different than everybody else can be just as terrible. [ He shifts, situating the bag at his feet in the cart now. ]
It's natural that you'd want to avoid troubling situations like that. I think you've learned a lot from your life. [ He looks at the trees, slowly beginning to pass them by. ] It unfurls very slowly, through small awakenings. You're reminded of words you were once told, or a feeling you once had.

"Oh, I get it now." "Oh, that was what they meant."

[It's uncanny, how much he understands about her. That statement about being different, and how much harder that can be... and about how things come back to you, like Anko's words haunting her so often -

- then it hits her. It might not be uncanny - it might be his power. People from Loki can have telepathy.

She gives him a sidelong glance, working hard to keep all suspicion out of it. She doesn't want to believe it of Johan, but Namine did say to keep her eyes open...]

Johan, what power did you get?

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