[OPEN LOG]

[nukeoleptic]

Who: Jade + literally anyone
What: Jade bribing people into her restaurant with free things.
When: Day 355.
Where: The Highwind, in Heimdall's district.
Rating: PG-13 for language at most!

EDITED TO ADD: Also, totally feel free to threadjack and use this as a mingle log IF YOU WOULD LIKE ♥

[ It had worked once before, back in the heat of late summer in Asgard, so Jade was trying it again. She had dragged the sign out to the front of the store, right in the middle of the sidewalk, and written in huge letters:

free hot chocolate! :D
just come inside ♥

The temperature hadn't broken the sixty degree mark today - it was getting chilly fast. Both Orihime and Annabeth were gone, and the store was oddly quiet. Jade will be found keeping herself busy throughout the day with odd little chores when it's completely empty of customers - sweeping, dusting, and occasionally dozing in a booth near the door when the boredom becomes too much to bear. ]

Comments

[cyan_maid]

[She shrugs.] It was really for my own safety more than anything. I tend to fall into trouble, and my Dad is very protective.

[lethechained]

...! [Brow knitting further,] So... things just happened to you a lot? Do you know why?

[cyan_maid]

[Nods!] I certainly do! Though if I'm here, I don't think being an heiress means much of anything, does it?

[lethechained]

[... Huh.] An... heiress? -- Well, most things about our own worlds don't mean much here, no. But-- heiress to what, exactly?

[cyan_maid]

[She nods again, pretty nonchalantly.] Yes, that's right. Um, have you ever heard of Betty Crocker?

[Might as well test the waters before she goes into an explanation.]

[lethechained]

[The girl seems to consider this thoroughly, searching patiently through her mind for a few moments before,]

Not that I recall. Is she your mother?

[cyan_maid]

Oh, no no no, she's my...great grandmother. Sort of.

[As much as a possible evil fish alien dictator can be a great grandmother.]

She started a veritable baking empire and left it to my Poppop, and if everything were fine and dandy, I'd have inherited it someday.

[lethechained]

Sort of?

[She's terribly curious, and it's obvious.]

-- Oh. So she's... passed on, then? [Huh.] Is that why you learned to bake?

[cyan_maid]

She's...mostly likely not as benevolent as I grew up believing. Or as passed on.

[It's really hard trying to explain something you're only halfway sure about.]

But that's part of it, yes! And my Dad loves to bake, too, so I guess catching the bug from him was only a matter of time.

[lethechained]

... Oh.

[... Yeah, still not the weirdest thing she's ever heard. Her brow knits slightly, but,]

I'm... sorry? [She's not sure whether that's something to express condolences about or not.]

I see...! Are you and your father close?

[cyan_maid]

It's alright! She hasn't exactly reared her head or anything, just been off in the shadows. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it stays that way.

[Because blindly believing you won't be targeted by Her Imperious Condescension is totally safe, right?]

We are pretty close! I used to think we were at odds with each other and that he was strange as all get out, but as I got older I realized he just tries to do what he thinks will make me happy and keep me safe. The grounding is a little tiresome, though.

[lethechained]

[The talk of rearing and shadows certainly cements the idea that this great grandmother is not someone Naminé should be eager to meet.]

By the sound of things, I can't blame you. I... wish you luck.

[... And she'd have a lot more to say about that if she'd been given that particular name, because that one, at least, she already knows to fear.]

That's what a good parent is, though, isn't it? Someone who always looks out for you. [But ugh, grounding.] Even if their methods are a little strange. Then again-- I guess I wouldn't know much about that. [Even though she's got some creations of her own--] I've never had parents. [Or great grand ones, for that matter.]

[cyan_maid]

Thanks.

[But it's so tough to just sling the name around. Jane hasn't seen the old hag herself - not yet at least. It's...difficult.

Jane's mouth falls open at that last bit.] Really? No parents? What about other kinds of family?

[lethechained]

[The smile she tries to offer is wry.]

No. None. I--... there was someone who was... almost like a brother, [in terms of method of creation] ... but not exactly. I've never had any real family at all.

[cyan_maid]

[Her expression falls.] Oh, no, that's awful! I'm so sorry!

[lethechained]

[She's trying really hard to smile anyway, for Jane's sake!]

It's alright, really...! I-- there are a lot of people here who are good to me. It may not be like having a family, but... it's good enough for me.

[cyan_maid]

...Well...if you're sure...

[Still doesn't sound like something Namine would want to go back to...]

[lethechained]

[That's the thing; it sort of isn't. There are people she wants to see again, yes, and perhaps duties she owes those worlds, but....]

I am. Asgard is like-- well, it's close enough to a home. I'm happy, Jane. I promise.

[cyan_maid]

No, I believe you - it's just...it sounds lonely, is all.

[Her own friends had been similarly lonely before the game...it is sad to think about.]

[lethechained]

It is.

[She still manages to smile even then, only a little.]

Or it was, anyway. I was very lonely for a long, long time. But... that just means I'm even more glad to be here than I already would have been.

[cyan_maid]

[Jane nods, because what do you say to that? There's not really much. Also, they really shouldn't be lingering on this sort of topic...

That keeps happening between these two, doesn't it?]

[lethechained]

[It does. Gosh. Gotta get some more detectives or something going on.]

[Shifting slightly in her seat, she casts about for a better topic.]

So, um-- you're... friends with Dirk, aren't you?

[cyan_maid]

[Detectives are good. Which detectives? There are lots. Jane could probably talk Namine's ear off about Hercule Poirot and his cute, pristine mustache.]

I am. Roxy, too! Do you know her, or just Dirk?

[lethechained]

[Naminé wouldn't really know where to start, so all the better?]

Mmhm! I've met her before. I haven't had the chance to speak with her much, but she seems nice...! I'm so glad you can all be together again.

[cyan_maid]

[Aw, it's okay Namine. You will learn of Hercule Poirot soon enough.]

So am I - though we were all together when I left. [A pause, and a bit of a frown. She hadn't thought much about the game recently.] Well. Sort of. But that's neither here nor there, is it?

You haven't? You should! Roxy is the best friend any girl could ask for!