[video]

[whatagoodgirl]

[Nakama's not looking quite so sickly the next time she appears on the network feed - she's been getting treatments from Dr. Watson that are at least resting her body, if not her mind. There's a figure behind her as well, hair slightly and unevenly shorn but still recognisable as Karuika Mirel. He's not exactly hiding, but it's clear that she's in charge of this post.]

Hello, everyone. Karu had an idea for another event we could do ourselves, just as travelers, and I wanted to run it past everybody and see what you thought.

If we find a good spot, we could light a controlled bonfire - sort of to represent the gift that light was to us recently - and people could write down any of their worries and concerns and throw them into the fire. I'm sure we've all got things still weighing on our mind, and it would be a way to purge yourself of them and move on.

[She glances behind her, murmuring under her breath.] Was that alright?

Perfect, Nakama. [His voice is warm and encouraging. He adjusts the red headband covering his usually obvious ears and turns to address the network himself:] Is this something transients -- ah, travelers -- would attend? I plan to string lights around the city. With any luck, they will become colored lights by the end of the night.

Think of it as rebirth.

So just let us know, okay? Thank you for listening.

((ooc: replies may come from one or both of them! If you're mean to Karu, you're guaranteed to get a Nakama, though.))

Comments

[Audio - filtered]

[whatagoodgirl]

At my house in Sigyn. I can meet you somewhere, if you want; I've got two housemates here, and it won't really be quiet or private.

[Audio - filtered]

[occulthymns]

How about you come to my room? I'm 403 in Freya house. It'll be a lot quieter.

[Audio - filtered]

[whatagoodgirl]

Okay. Just... give me some time to clean myself up, alright?

[Audio - filtered]

[occulthymns]

Sure. I'll have the tea ready by the time you arrive.

[Audio - filtered] -> [Action]

[whatagoodgirl]

Thank you. [Her voice is measured and polite, trying to make up for earlier.] I'll be as quick as I can.

[Awhile later, there'll be a knock on Euri's door. Nakama's done her best to clean herself up, but she can't wash away the sickly pallor in her face or the hollows in her cheeks.]

[occulthymns]

[Euri answers immediately!]

Hey, come on in.

[She steps aside and dear jesus she somehow has even more plants. The place is a regular greenhouse with herbs and flowers and mushrooms and god knows what other flora crammed in every available space, with more bunches of them hanging overhead drying or dried and in glass jars. There is also one surprisingly large, black wolfdog trying to wiggle his way around Euri as she holds him back by the scruff of his neck, and a decently sized semi-aquatic tank on her little table containing two adorable red-clawed crabs who are currently munching away on some brine shrimp pellets. Also on the table are two mugs of tea and a teapot. The tea smells pretty minty as it's a mint-chamomile mixture.]

[whatagoodgirl]

[She just stands in the doorway for a moment, staring in disbelief. It's like what Roxas's room must have looked like before they all dried out...

... and then, Dog. She takes a nervous step back, swallowing heavily.]

Is he... friendly?

[occulthymns]

Oh, yeah. He just wants to say hi. [... Probably. He's woofing very loudly at Nakama, anyway.]

[whatagoodgirl]

[Each bark makes her jump a little, but she finally steps into the room and closes the door, approaching the dog slowly and gingerly with one hand outstretched.]

Hello there...

1/2

[occulthymns]

[Dog's response is to sniff Nakama's hand... then start licking it gross dog slobber.]

[occulthymns]

See? He likes you.

[whatagoodgirl]

[She doesn't mind the dog slobber - it's a friendly gesture, so she uses her other hand to scratch behind one ear, smiling softly.]

I've just never been around a dog this big before... and I don't have a lot of experience with dogs in general, other than the puppies back home. And they only just opened their eyes, so they don't do much other than wiggle.

[occulthymns]

[Dog loooooves ear scratches so he's totally leaning into that with happy rrff noises.]

I guess he does look pretty threatening... but he only attacks people if they provoke him. Unless you're a squirrel, I mean.

[whatagoodgirl]

He's not as bad as some of the Pokemon around here. [Her smile turns a little bit playful. She's starting to recover from her mini-breakdown, by the looks of it.] Nothing could have prepared me for them.

[She moves further into the room, waiting to be offered tea in case Euri's already mixed something into hers.] Um, Euri... Karu and I are both sorry. We didn't mean to get so angry. I know it was a bad time for everyone, so that's no excuse to be so hostile, but... he regrets the tone he took with you, and I'm pretty embarrassed by my outburst."

[occulthymns]

[Yes, the tea! Euri doesn't quite respond to the apology, instead moving to pour them each a cup before sitting down. When she does Dog is going to go flop over at her feet, tail wagging.]

... You know, even though I was a bounty hunter back home I never actually killed anyone until that darkness started possessing people.

[whatagoodgirl]

You too? [Nakama sits as well, picking up her cup.] I was in a war... well, a sort of war. I wasn't a soldier, but I had to battle in a complicated way. I saw thousands of people die at the hands of one of my friends who got taken over by the power of it. But I never saw blood on my hands until...

[She shivers and takes a sip of tea to ward off a sudden chill.]

[occulthymns]

[Euri nods.]

The magic Witches have is almost entirely destructive, but - there's a saying back home. "Killing is never right; the most it can ever be is acceptable."

[whatagoodgirl]

I don't even feel acceptable. [She speaks in a choked whisper.] I feel like a mass murderer.

[occulthymns]

Having it be acceptable doesn't mean you shouldn't feel bad about it. You should.

[whatagoodgirl]

I can't handle it, though. It weighs on me all the time. I just wanted to protect people, I just didn't want anyone else to go through what I did... I couldn't stop myself. Now I feel like I'm going crazy.

[occulthymns]

Sounds like you were trying to carry a burden that's too big for you. [She'll sip at her tea thoughtfully.] But you know what might help a little...?

[whatagoodgirl]

I saved my whole planet. I thought I could handle anything. [She lets out a shaky breath.] But you're right. I'm not meant for fighting. It's obvious now.

What? [She sits up, obviously hoping for a miracle.]

[occulthymns]

A funeral.

[whatagoodgirl]

But... how? We could never hope to get the names of everyone who died if you include the natives. People were dying everywhere, and we have no way of contacting them like we do one another. Besides, some of the travelers might not want to speak up about dying for personal reasons. How would we do it?

[It's not a rejection, though.]

[occulthymns]

That's okay. Sometimes you don't have everything you need for a funeral - names, bodies, that kind of thing. It's the intent that matters most, and giving the people who died respect and closure - especially for the people who died permanently, so they don't come back as angry ghosts.

[That last part is really important okay.]