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

Well, most of the other animals... no, all of the ones in the petting zoo are normal. [She hugs herself a little, looking at the horses in a whole new way.] That's... animals are the way they are for a reason. You shouldn't play with that. What if it hurts them to have those extra legs?

It probably comes with quite a few health complications. [ Though, in a place like this, it could always just be from magic. Johan pretends not to notice how uncomfortable the implications are making Nakama. ]

I have a rather serious question for you. You may answer it, or you may not. After all, we don't know who could be listening.

[She's grateful for the distraction, but even being asked if she can be asked a serious question makes her a bit nervous. He seems to be in a darker mood today, and there's no way of knowing what he could ask.]

Okay. Sure.

Do you think the Gods here truly care about their people?

[That stops her cold. Why is he thinking such terrible things all of a sudden?]

Um...

[But then she looks a little more certain.]

Kidnapping people and bringing them here to revive the place... that seems pretty desperate, doesn't it? If they didn't care, they just would've let them fade away.

But there's a difference between needing someone alive, and wanting them alive. Isn't there? [ Johan looks concerned, almost sad for the people of this world. ]

What - do you think maybe without the people and the city, the gods will fade, too?

It's strange. I almost feel afraid to speak these words aloud -- they must be listening, after all. [ He looks away from Nakama, in conflict, and seemingly to hide the emotion on his face. ]

I'm... probably alarming you. I'm sorry. I don't have anyone else I feel I can talk to.

[Suddenly she feels terrible for questioning all of these dark thoughts. Everyone must have doubts and concerns about this place, and he feels he can share them with her and only her. She can't begrudge him such misgivings.]

I've heard people say a lot worse, and they haven't been punished. I think you'll be alright.

And - it's okay. I have thoughts like this sometimes, too, about my own world. When you don't know very much, it's easy to think the worst.

[ He's silent at that for a while, nodding and staring at the back of the driver's head. ]

My friend, Jr. - he calls the gods "bastards" in full voice whenever he wants. Even over the network. And he was moved to a different God House, but nothing bad has happened to him.

[Just nattering, trying to fill the silence. She's a bit worried about this mood Johan seems to be in.]

Hm. [ He looks over at Nakama, smile returning to his face with a graceful fluidity instead of enthusiasm. ]

You're such a kind person. What a good friend you are. Don't let this place change you.

Wh - [She stares blankly, her cheeks flooding with colour. What brought that on?]

[ He places his elbow over the edge of the cart now, resting his chin in his palm as he looks at her. ]

W-Well - thank you. [She can't quite meet his eye.]

Remember what I have said just now. You make this place better for many, I'm positive. You probably have brought more life to it than anybody else. [ That's okay, his eyes will just continue to stay frozen on her. ]

[She doesn't know how to take this. She's faced nothing but criticism her entire life, and now being showered with praise - someone sharper might be suspicious, but she really just wants people to like her, so this is too much like a dream to question.]

I-I'll remember. [She sounds like she could cry.]

[ Johan's smile fades, for a moment, as a wave of sympathy seems to rush over him. The smile that returns now is far more caring -- almost paternal, as he reaches for her hand gently. ]

When you begin to believe what I'm saying, you won't have to cry anymore.

[Again he knows - he knows exactly why it's upsetting instead of uplifting. But this time, she doesn't suspect him of anything. She just smiles sadly.]

You're working against a lot of time hearing the opposite. I'm sorry.

[ He gives her hand a small squeeze of support, before releasing it. ] Well, I'm sure we can help each other out. How long have you been here?

[Her smile warms a little.]

Well, I got here on the first day, so it's been... I think today is the twenty-fourth day?

That's not very long at all. It looks like we both have plenty of growing to do at a place like this. [ The sunset seems to be particularly strong right now, but by way of the most unmoving colour. An almost completely grey sunset; it seemed surreal, since the warmth seemed to be reaching them, though weakly, through gaps in the trees now. ]

[She's noticed that too, and she stares in wonder, trying to comprehend what she's seeing.]

It's all like a dream. Sometimes it's a nightmare, sometimes it's the best dream I've ever had. But nothing, nothing ever feels real.

[ He watches as the carriage slows, while the breeze whistling around them seems to have halted entirely. ]

A dream. [ He says it a bit lower, to himself. ] A dream.

[ How he wanted it to be done with, already, this dream that he thought he had woken up from. ]

Will you remember anybody you've met here, once the dream has ended?

[She's suddenly very solemn, to hide her emotion.]

I don't think there's anything left for me after this dream. I don't think I ever wake up.

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