[.001]

[lethechained]

Who: Naminé (lethechained) and Nakama (agoodfamily)
What: A trip to the park is a welcome distraction.
When: Day 8
Where: Starts at Sigyn's Welcome Hall, goes to Gefion Park, Baldr District.
Rating: PG-13.

Comments

[agoodfamily]

[And here she comes, her long cloak trailing behind her and an oversized blue sweater and jeans showing underneath - their large size only emphasizes how skinny her body is beneath them. Instead of her usual high ponytail, her hair's down so that she can wear a toque. It's best to be warm today, since they could be out for awhile.

She approaches the front door and hesitates for a moment, remembering that the uneasy feeling in other districts gets worse in their houses, then finally steps inside.]

Naminé...?

[lethechained]

[Naminé straightens up at the sight, and when Nakama comes inside, Naminé is there to greet her with a smile.]

Hello...! [There's a moment during which she's not quite what else she's supposed to say, but she finally ends up with,] How was your trip?

[agoodfamily]

Not bad. It's actually warming up out there, but it's still pretty cold. [Looking her over approvingly.] You'll be a lot more comfortable today.

Ready to go? It's a bit of a walk, but at least there's no snow falling today.

[lethechained]

Good. [She stays still as she's inspected, and her smile widens when she apparently passes.] I hope so.

Mmhm! Any time you are. And-- that's okay. I'd like to see more of the city, and I'm starting to melt wearing this in here. It'll be nice to be outside for a while. [It's been a rare luxury for her in the past, after all.]

[agoodfamily]

Alright, let's go. [She holds the door open for Naminé, waiting for her to pass through before jogging to catch up with her.] It's... kinda weird, having all this free time. With school and my job and everything, I was always busy at home. But then - I didn't have a lot of people to hang out with back home, so it's a good thing I was so busy.

[lethechained]

[She nods, but pauses briefly when the door's held open for her. That's still kind of weird for her, since she's used to doing things like that on her own, but she offers a grateful smile and steps outside.] It is strange. I never had this much free time, either. [For very, very different reasons, though. She glances over at Nakama at the last part, looking a little surprised.] You didn't have very many friends? [You probably shouldn't ask things like that, Naminé.]

[agoodfamily]

[It's okay, she knows she left herself open for it.]

I... didn't have any friends, other than my mom, until last summer. It was a small town, and people could be really judgmental and unfair. And once they didn't like you, nothing changed that.

[She sighs a little, shaking off her sadness.] I think - I've decided it's better when there's more people. It was scary when I got here, the size of the crowds, but that just meant it wasn't like home. When there's more people, you can still have friends if some of them don't like you.

[lethechained]

[No friends at all? That makes her frown immediately, her brow knitting a little in both sympathy and confusion. The explanation works out most of the confusion, but not all of it, and her frown grows.]

But.... [It doesn't make any sense to her that someone like Nakama could not have friends.] How could they not like you? You're so kind. [Ah, but people can be cruel, and Naminé knows that all too well; it was mostly her surprise that made her ask that.]

[agoodfamily]

[She stops walking for a moment, her face heating up dramatically, then starts up a little more quickly than before.]

Oh, um... there was some... controversy about my family. And it made it hard to get along with people.

[Please don't ask any more, please. She just barely had the courage to tell Souji, and Namine seems so innocent... she might not take it as well.]

[lethechained]

--? [Naminé stops a few steps after Nakama does to look back at her, confused, then moves to keep pace with her once she starts walking again. --Goodness, why so speeding up?]

Controversy?

[Naminé would be quite apologetic about her faux pas if she could read Nakama's mind, but as it is she has a question and she asks it automatically, too curious to realize right away that it's possible she shouldn't ask.]

[agoodfamily]

It's... [She slows back down again when she realizes she was almost jogging. As if she could run away from the truth.] ... it's a long story. I'll tell you sometime, but not now.

[Grinning down at her shyly.] Today's supposed to be a good day, right?

[lethechained]

[Naminé's quite grateful for the decrease in speed, since she's terribly ill-equipped for anything physically taxing. A long story, huh? Looking up at her, Naminé gets the picture, and she nods. Her return smile is purposefully wide.]

I understand. Whenever you're ready.

You're right. It-- will be.

[agoodfamily]

It doesn't matter, anyway. I made friends that summer, and I've made friends here. That's what matters now.

[She glances sidelong at Naminé, wondering how much to ask about her life. None of it has sounded very happy so far. Maybe stick to current time.]

Have you made many friends here?

[lethechained]

[That seems to be a relief to her, since she lets out a nearly inaudible sigh.] Mm. I'm really glad to hear that, Nakama.

[Naminé doesn't notice the glance, but she turns to look at the other girl when she speaks. The question seems to surprise the blonde at first, then make her thoughtful. She tilts her head slightly one way, then the other.] ...I... don't know.

[agoodfamily]

You don't know? [A surprised blink.] Um, well... are there people you feel comfortable talking to, people you'd take your problems to? Or even just people you like hanging out with, who treat you well?

[lethechained]

Well... [She seems to have to think about this pretty hard.] ...I've met a lot of kind people here, and I did enjoy talking to them, but I--... I don't know if I have the right to just say that they're my friends. I never asked them if it was okay. [It's rather difficult to have friends when one has no heart in the first place, and she's not sure she has the right to call someone a friend even if they DO say it's okay.]