[Open] When darkness is upon your door

[burntviolet]

Who: Hanako (burntviolet) and you!
What: Lilly is gone. Hanako doesn't take it very well, and tries to cope with the loss by going to the places she likes.
When: Day 137
Where: There will be two options: Library, and the park.
Rating: PG.



[ A - Gefion Park ]

[ It was nothing short of a horrible week for Hanako, just like it was probably for most people. But what hurt her the most was the notice that her best friend Lilly was missing from her room. One morning she headed there as usual to help her get ready for breakfast, and all her things, along with her own person, were nowhere to be found. The "Contact Not Found" sign on her bracelet was the ultimate confirmation that Lilly was no longer in Asgard. It hit Hanako harder than it should have, considering that now she's sure her friend was safe from the danger that lies here. Her company, although short-living, did help her emotionally during the Darkness attacks. She would have possibly broken down otherwise.

She's going to spend most of the morning in the park, sitting on the grass by the lake. Nashi's been left in the House. Hanako wanted to be alone while brooding. It doesn't look like she had a great sleep lately, either, looking at the clear bags under her eyes. ]

[ B - Great Library ]

[ Towards the afternoon, Hanako can be found at the library, sitting on her usual beanbag and mindlessly flipping through the pages of a random book she picked up. She's not reading it, though... her mind is wandering to other, unpleasant places where it shouldn't be. Not even her most favourite hobby is helping her. ]

Comments

[seventeenpills]

Hisao stood up too, a little more slowly than she had. His own book was tucked under his arm - he'd checked it out already.

"So... were you hungry? I can make us some dinner if you are. Or we can go out and buy something to eat? There's a tea shop not too far from here and I think they do cafe type food - little cakes and pastries and things. If you want. My treat?"

It seemed to be the least he could do, considering.

[burntviolet]

Going back to the house didn't sound like a nice option to her. She wanted to get out and walk. Anywhere, she didn't care.

"Fine." She muttered. "Tea shop it is."

[seventeenpills]

"Alright, that sounds good. Did you have any books you wanted to bring with you?"

He glanced around, not spotting any. Still, she may have left them at the counter or something. He started walking either way.

[burntviolet]

"I could pick another on the spot." Either way, she wasn't going to read it.

[seventeenpills]

"Alright - onward to tea and cake, then."

His voice was full of forced cheerfulness. He really wasn't experienced enough to know how to handle this situation. All he knew was her every movement and word and expression spoke of the fact that she was still upset at him. He wanted to explain more, but frankly? He thought it would just make her more mad with him and he really didn't want that.

[burntviolet]

There would be a short nod, and after picking another book, she would follow him to wherever he was taking her. There was going to be quite the effort to eventually cheer her up...

[seventeenpills]

Well, he was nothing if not patient and persistent.

"So... Um..."

Think Hisao. Think hard - there must be at least one or two topics of conversation you can come up with.

"...."

Or not. The only things he could think of right now were depressing things. Cheering up Hibiki after Shi-Chan's departure, Nakama after Claudia's departure - But someone they cared for had left too and so far he was doing a terrible job of cheering up Hanako.

[burntviolet]

"..." And if he didn't talk, she sure wouldn't either. He would have done a greater job if he didn't bring up Samantha's topic, although he couldn't know Hanako was aware of those violent episodes.

She would only walk, staring at the ground.

[seventeenpills]

Ahh. Silence. At first, when they were just becoming friends, he found her silences awkward. Then, he grew into them - they became comfortable silences. Friendly silences, allowing each of them to be with the other, yet think their own thoughts and do their own things. Now, they were back to square one - and he desperately wanted SOMETHINg to talk about. Anything.

"....How's... Nashi doing? Still enjoying her new toys and things?"

[burntviolet]

"She's doing well." Hanako replied rather dryly, not specifying whether her dog liked those toys or not. She didn't feel the need and mood to.

[seventeenpills]

"That's good. I'm glad to hear that."

....well, that was a long and lively conversation. He hung his head in frustration just slightly before perking up at the sight of the tea house.

"Here we are. Did you want to sit out on the patio or inside?"

[burntviolet]

"I'll sit outside." That way, she would have more room to look at things that weren't Hisao or other people.

[seventeenpills]

"Alright, well, you pick whichever table suits you best, OK? And you can order whatever you want."

He was intending to pay for her. It was about the only thing he could think of to make things right at this point. Which really wasn't the point, was it? But he didn't know what else to do.

[burntviolet]

"I could pay for it." She intercepted his intention, knowing well that speaking like that, he meant that he was going to pay for her too. Somehow that bothered her, although she didn't feel as much before. You could do better than this, Hisao.

[seventeenpills]

"....just... let me do that much for you, alright?" he replied quietly, looking away and frowning.

[burntviolet]

What was that? That made her frown, too. If he was trying to make up for earlier, trying to argue with her over who should pay for their own meal would surely not cheer her up. Quite the contrary. The least she needed was to be treated like a baby.

"It's not necessary, Hisao. I have the money."

[seventeenpills]

"Fine."

He let her pick up a seat and poked at the menu. He knew what he was going to have to drink and he saw that they had some small cakes on display, so, he would just have one of those. They didn't look to have much frosting which was good - he didn't want anything too sweet.

[burntviolet]

Relieved that he didn't insist further, Hanako sat down and picked the menu. She looked through the list silently. Anything would be fine with her, she wasn't that hungry, but having insomnia didn't mean she had to afford starving herself.

[seventeenpills]

The waitress eventually came over and Hisao ordered a small cake and a pot of tea. His voice was quiet and sullen.

"Two checks, please."

As you please, Hanako.

[burntviolet]

Good. Relaxing a bit more, she ordered her own brand of tea and a slice chocolate cake. Then, she'd fall back into silence once the waitress left, eyes wandering to the side to stare at a pair of pigeons pecking at stuff on the ground.

[seventeenpills]

Hisao followed her gaze and stared at the pigeons along with her. They were kind of cute - fat and well fed, with bright pink feet and splashes of color on their feathers. Greens and purples shining inamongst myriad greys. It was a little bit like Asgard itself, really.

[burntviolet]

Hanako rested her chin against her palm, staring to the same spot even when the birds were gone. Just like before, she wouldn't speak until nudged to. Maybe the tea might let off some of her crankyness.

[seventeenpills]

Soon enough, the tea arrived. Two pots.

"Thank you." Hisao said to the waitress, starting to pur his own tea.

"There - this ought to make us feel a little better, I think. Right?"

One could hope, anyway.

[burntviolet]

That question was welcomed with a small shrug, as she pulled the cup close to herself, and poured her own part when Hisao was done, adding some sugar. One could hope, indeed.

She didn't wait much before taking her first sip, staring down at the table.

[seventeenpills]

Hisao sipped at his tea too, brooding a little. He just had no idea what to say. He took a bite of his cake and shrugged - it was actually pretty good. But this silence from her was nerve wracking.

"...did you have plans for dinner?"