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

[whatagoodgirl]

Who: Nakama and Johan, Nakama and Nill, and Nakama and Gau
What: A whole lot of meetings involving sightseeing, typing, and note-sharing.
When: Day 24 (I think?), various times.
Where: Loki district and Heimdall district.
Rating: G, will edit if it changes.

[Comment headers will be placed in the entry for each character's log!]

Comments

[uglyinside]

[ He nods, and holds his hand out to her. ]

What a wonderful daughter you must be, then.

[whatagoodgirl]

[She accepts it shyly, smiling through her tears.]

That's because I had such a wonderful mother.

[They've crossed a few borders now, and are in Heimdall's District. The house is just up ahead.]

[uglyinside]

[ He gives it a gentle squeeze, before entwining their fingers. He urges to continue walking, not thinking anything of holding hands with her. ]

My friend back at University. He has a story like yours. You're not alone... [ Trailing off, he is looking around now that they are in the District, noticing the slightest differences in architecture and atmosphere in comparison to Loki's District. ]

How strange. I almost prefer this to my own District, already. I don't suppose one could just move out, though.

[whatagoodgirl]

[When their fingers intertwine, and she realizes that he intends to walk through the district like this, her face flushes deeply. He's become like a mentor figure to her, she could never feel anything romantic for him, but - he is very good-looking, and holding hands is a gesture she naturally associates with romance at her age. Couples in the hallway at school, fingers wound together like this...]

Oh - no, you couldn't do that. [Snapping out of her trance and trying to will the blush out of her cheeks.] It's hard to stay in a different God House for too long... you feel really unwelcome after awhile, and it gets worse the longer you stay. I guess you'd have to find the gods and ask them for a change.

lol god so cute <3 johan will be your big brother mentor that makes you doubt your trust in ppl 4evs

[uglyinside]

Really? That's too bad. I guess I can't stay too long at your House, then. [ That certainly gives him something to think about and dissect. How does one find the gods and ask them? Is such contact even possible?

He looks down at their hands, then at Nakama, then over at the House close ahead. ]

Is that it?

no she will saaaaave you ;;

[whatagoodgirl]

You'll be okay for a visit. I've had visitors and gone to visit people, and it hasn't been too bad.

Yeah. [She nods, picking up the pace a little until they're climbing the stairs.] I'll just have to put my cloak away, so you can wait in the kitchen, if you want.

[uglyinside]

[ He gives an agreeable smile, and once they're up the stairs, he folds his hands behind his back again, waiting for Nakama to take the lead. Also, looking very curiously around this place, trying to piece together the psychological prescriptivism of assigning Houses and what that could imply about this place...]

You go right ahead, then.

[whatagoodgirl]

[She jogs off, then reappears a few minutes later without her cloak on and with her ponytail tidied up a bit.]

The kitchen's right this way. [Once she's led him in, she glances around, wondering what to prepare.] What would you prefer: coffee, tea, hot cocoa?

[uglyinside]

Hot chocolate would be nice. [ He follows her to the kitchen, eyes drifting around at the design still. ]

I get the feeling you do this for people. Quite often.

[whatagoodgirl]

Well, it's cold out most days right now. [Shrugging and smiling, ignoring the main point - that she's always the server rather than the served.] It's only polite to make people something warm when they come over. It'll be ready in just a minute.

[She's got a pot out in a heartbeat, and she's filling it with milk, stirring slowly.]

[uglyinside]

[ Johan leans against the counter, looking out the window above the kitchen sink, at the setting sun. ]

I hope you're not exhausting yourself.

[whatagoodgirl]

[Why do people always worry about that with her? She laughs quietly.]

I can manage some tea or hot cocoa now and then. [Again, dodging the main point. But then she feels a bit badly, since Johan is always so understanding, and she speaks more seriously.] I'm not working half as hard as I used to back home. I just like to fill my time, that's all.

[uglyinside]

[ He looks over at her, acknowledging her statement with a nod, before walking over to the kitchen table. ]

[whatagoodgirl]

Back at home, I used to work right through the night, without eating, if I had a job that needed to be done. I had to be dependable, you see, or people wouldn't keep coming to me. [Thoughtfully stirring cocoa and sugar into the milk.] I just thought, every piece of sewing means...

[He'll underrstand the rest. One less man my mother has to sleep with.

She brings over two full, piping hot mugs, setting one down for him before sitting across from him.] Will you work here, Johan?

[uglyinside]

[ He accepts her deviating from divulging more of her life, and allows the subject to turn on him to make her more comfortable. ]

Will I work here?

[ He watches her sit across from him, before taking the mug. ]

I thought about reading. To children, or the elderly. The children here - I am most concerned about bringing life to.

[ He takes a sip. That is some mighty fine hot cocoa you make there, miss. ]

As for a paying job, I was thinking of working at the library, but it's not in my District. Longer shifts could mean I'd slowly feel unwelcome, right?

[whatagoodgirl]

It's not as bad as in the houses themselves. You could manage it. I work in Freyr, and I do alright. It's just harder to get hired, that's the main thing.

[Then her face softens a little.] Reading to people... that's so nice. Where'd you get that idea?

[uglyinside]

[ He looks pleased at the first bit of information, and pulls the cup away from his lips, revealing more languid, nostalgic smile.]


I figured telling children stories here, and giving them the opportunities to interact with those stories, would help them considerably. It's what I do back at home, and --

[ His gaze averts, finding some entirely uninteresting wallpaper to focus on. ]

-- Well, I really love stories. You wouldn't want to come along with me, would you...? [ He trails off for a moment, before giving Nakama a hopeful, almost sheepish glance ]

[whatagoodgirl]

[Her mind throws up logical objections - you're getting too busy, you're overworking yourself, you can't go along with everyone - but at the sight of that sheepish look, she practically melts. She can't refuse him a request to help children, of all things. In fact, it's getting difficult to refuse him anything.]

Of course I will. It sounds like a really nice way to spend an afternoon.

[uglyinside]

Thank you. [ He beams at her, though with that subdued hue that always seems to cloak his expressions. ] I was planning on going at the end of the month. Is there anything you'd like my help on?

[whatagoodgirl]

[Even with that natural calmness, a smile that large is a bit startling from him, so she blushes and looks away automatically.] Oh, it's no trouble. I'll be glad to.

[Then she frowns pensively. Help? She has to fight past the natural urge to reject all help as she thinks about her various plans and projects, but doesn't come up with anything.] I - don't think so. But if I ever do need a favour, I'll come to you. Alright?

[There's a solemnity about how she says that which suggests that it's not something she does often.]

[uglyinside]

[ With a nod, Johan indulges in some more of the hot chocolate. Yes, the type of person she seemed to be was familiar, indeed. ]

As long as I'm here, I'll try to be there for you. [ He leans forward just a bit, looking down into the cup. ]

Soon, we can truly know one another.

[whatagoodgirl]

[Truly know one another... why does that give her a little chill? It's good that he understands her so well, right? And it'd be good to understand him just as well? Isn't that what friendship is all about?

She suddenly remembers her own cocoa and takes a sip, surprised to find that it's already half-cool. She can't find words to reply.]

[uglyinside]

[ He only smiles at her uncertainty at his statement, finishing up with his drink. ]

It's getting quite late, and I planned on exploring more. I hope you don't mind...

[whatagoodgirl]

Oh - [She snaps out of her trance, offering him a genuine smile.] - oh, yeah, of course. I have to be up early tomorrow for work, so I should probably get to bed soon anyway.

[She takes his mug to the sink along with hers, but doesn't start washing right away. She feels like something should be said.]

It's been... a really nice afternoon, Johan.

[uglyinside]

[ He picks up his bag, standing, and gives her a small wave. ]

I wouldn't have chosen another to spend it with.