[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

[lethechained]

[It's not the kind of laughter she's ever had much chance to experience, really. That makes her all the more grateful for the opportunity.]

[Calming, herself, she tries to catch her breath - and kind of makes things harder for herself by trying to say,]

My-- chest feels funny.

[In a good way, if her cheerful tone is any indication.]

[cyan_maid]

Oh - oh, are you okay?

[Even so, Jane's first reaction is to be concerned, and she's brought a hand to her own chest herself.]

I think we just - overdid it a little with laughing. That's all.

[lethechained]

Yes, I-- I think I'm fine.

[Her fingers curl inward, hand pressed to her own chest, as well.]

That must be it. I don't remember the last time I laughed like that.

[... She probably hasn't ever laughed like that.]

[cyan_maid]

[A little gasp. Jane bounces right back after a good laugh, so she's a little less winded.]

Then we should remedy that!

[lethechained]

[Maybe Naminé will do better, herself, with a little practice.]

I think I like the sound of that. I mean-- you don't have to feel obligated to, but... you're a fun person to laugh with.

[cyan_maid]

It's not an obligation. It's just what friends do!

[lethechained]

Right. Friends.

[Still such a strange word, even if it makes her smile widely to say it.]

'Guess I've still got some things to learn about that.

[cyan_maid]

[Jane gives another laugh - much softer, much smaller.]

Oh, gosh, don't we all.

[lethechained]

[More fodder for her smile, then.]

Yes... I suppose we do. It seems like no matter what there's always something new to learn about each other or some way to surprise even the people who know you best.

[cyan_maid]

But that's good! It's always good to get to know new sides to people.

[lethechained]

Mmhm! It really is. Whether those parts are pretty or not, it's... comforting, somehow.

[cyan_maid]

I suppose it could be comforting. I just like to think of it as nice.

[lethechained]

That too. I guess... for me, it helps me because I-- [She hesitates, rethinking speaking her mind. But--] ... Well, I was around... a lot of untrustworthy people, before.

[cyan_maid]

[They're not especially close, so Jane wouldn't blame her for rethinking it.] Really? What made them so untrustworthy?

[lethechained]

[She seems to struggle a moment with finding the right way to say it, but,]

Everything, really. They were... really only looking out for themselves, and if that meant they had to hurt or lie to other people to get what they wanted, then so be it.

[cyan_maid]

[Jane's brow furrows some, and she frowns.] Golly...what was someone like you doing with a bunch like that?

[lethechained]

[Her attempt at a smile is weak and much too obviously forced. Her shoulders move in an approximation of a shrug.] They didn't exactly give me a choice.

[cyan_maid]

Oh...

[Jane's expression immediately softens, and she draws back some. It'd be rude to ask further, especially when Namine has that kind of expression.] Oh, I'm so sorry. That's got to be rough.

[lethechained]

[Naminé is very still, although she shakes her head at that last part and her forced smile urges itself wider at the expression on Jane's face. It's okay, Jane, see? She's smiling and everything, even if it's almost apologetic.]

It was... but it's alright. It was just... one of those things. I couldn't do anything about it at the time, but it's better, now. I think I'd rather just be happy with the way things are here than worry about the past, these days.

[cyan_maid]

[Jane nods quickly - perhaps a little too quickly. Please be happy, Namine!]

That's a good way to go about it! I'm really sorry I asked...

[lethechained]

[She shakes her head firmly at the apology.]

Please, don't be. You didn't know. I really don't mind.

[cyan_maid]

Still! It's not polite, or very pleasant to think about I'm sure...

[lethechained]

I don't think it was exactly impolite, either, if you didn't know about it beforehand. And-- no, they're not very nice memories, but... they helped make me who I am now. I learned some important things from that part of my life and it would be a shame if I forgot that.

[~*~Bright side~*~.]

[cyan_maid]

That's...a really lovely way to put it.

[And interesting. Jane fits it in the back of her mind to chew on later.]

[lethechained]

[The pleasantly surprised smile is easy enough.]

Really? Thank you. I'm glad you think so. It's just... I would be a different person without those memories, you know? And maybe I'd be a better one, or maybe I wouldn't. Either way... those are lessons I wouldn't dare forget if I had my way.