asgardeventide | 3. [video]

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3. [video]

[Someone made a post about Christmas just as she was waking up, and it inspired her. So her face appears, flushed and sweaty but smiling gently, and behind her is Heimdall's kitchen table absolutely loaded with food. It looks like it should be groaning under the weight.]

Hi, everyone, it's Nakama again. Somebody mentioned that it's the holidays, and I wanted to make sure everyone got a gift, so I thought I'd make breakfast. Since there are a lot of people who don't know how to cook or use the appliances, this is a chance to have a nice meal... at least, I hope it's nice... anyway, it doesn't matter what house you're in, you can feel free to come to Heimdall House and have some. I'll be making more to replace what's gone, so please eat your fill.

((ooc: this is a post for everyone who doesn't have much going over the holidays, but has had some tag slowdown because of all the hiatuses, but anyone can tag in at any time of course. Let's all get together and keep ourselves entertained until things kick back into gear! Threadjacks welcome, video to ask about it or action to simply arrive, your choice. it's a party up in here. Happy holidays!))

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[Naminé finishes soon enough and gently sets her utensils down. There, plate cleared. Naminé gains 7 exp points--]

[And when Nakama sees that, she nods and clears everything away, piling it by the sink for a wash in case it has to be re-used. Then she returns, an apologetic look on her face.]

I've got to get some things washed in case I have to re-use them, so I can't sit with you anymore.

--Thank you. [It seems like she's had a lot of reasons to say that, lately.]

Oh! That's okay...! [She hesitates briefly, only because she's never washed dishes before, then,] I'll help.

Oh, you don't have to do that. I can take care of it.

But that wouldn't be fair. You already did everything to make all that food in the first place.

[It's so natural for her to refuse help, and she's about to do it again, when she thinks of two things:

1) Namine might go on about this favour forever if she doesn't let her do something, and

2) Anko's voice, reverberating in her head: See? That's why people don't like you. Because she'd never allow anyone into her work. It never meant anything if she didn't do it alone. Was that really what put people off? Was she always wrong?

So, this once, she relents.]

Okay, but this is your favour, alright? If you could check the dishes and see if any are empty or the food's gone cold, and then bring those ones to me?

--! [Naminé hadn't intended for it to be her favor - it just seems too simple, too natural a task, but if that's what Nakama wants, Naminé doesn't want to disagree, but she does pause, her hesitance obvious .] If you're sure...! Alright, then.

I'm sure. [Gently.] It'll be a huge help.

[And she's off to fill the biggest sink with soapy water. If Namine still wants to help afterwards, she can dry.]

Okay. [Well, she has her answer. Naminé sets to work, very careful not to drop anything.]

[Nakama collects the dishes as they're brought to her, scraping away any cold food and washing them to hold more if the crowd grows larger. There's a stack of clean, wet dishes growing in the sink and a towel hanging from the handle of the oven, so if Naminé feels antsy to keep helping, it won't be hard to figure out what needs to be done next.]

[Once everything that needs to be cleared is, Naminé lingers near the sink, hesitating. She does think she should keep helping, but the only thing holding her back is the concern over whether it's okay. Finally deciding she'll find out soon enough if it isn't, she edges over and starts to dry the dishes, just as cautious as she was about dropping things before.]

[Nakama turns around and starts to object, but she hears that ghost of a voice in her head again. That's why people don't like you.]

... thanks, Naminé. This is a huge help.

[Naminé sees the turn and freezes, automatically bracing herself for being told off. Her shoulders rise a little, defensive even though Nakama's been so kind to her so far. It's just an old instinct that Naminé hasn't gotten rid of. The gratitude clearly surprises her, but she's quick to relax and work out a smile.] You're welcome...!

[Misunderstanding that defensive posture, Nakama thinks that her expression must have been more angry than simply objecting, so she quickly starts to explain.]

I've always thought that... the big gestures didn't matter unless you did them alone. If someone helped, then it wasn't yours, y'know? You had to do everything yourself.

But I think maybe I was wrong. I think, maybe... it's never wrong to accept help from a friend. It's just hard to get used to.

[She watches the other girl quietly as she speaks, her arms lowering slightly along with the plate she'd been holding. Her expression sobers; she knows all too well how it feels to do things on one's own, and she also knows how dangerous it can be sometimes.]

... There are some things... that only you can do. But-- most things aren't that way. There's no shame in asking for help. [And maybe she's a touch hypocritical to think that when she so often tries to do things herself, to bear her burdens herself, because one of the things she never wants to do is cause someone else trouble. For so long, the things that she's had to do have been things that no one else can.] ...And there's nothing wrong with accepting it, either. Friends can help you do things you could never do on your own... or just make the things that you could do alone easier. [And more fun, see? Here, have a smile.]

[Yes, there are some things you have to do yourself. Like her fight in Zearth. But they were all there, weren't they? She wasn't alone.

As if reading Naminé's mind:] I don't like troubling people. It's easier to just do it myself. But that makes people worry, and that troubles them... so it's hard to know what to do. What's right. [She can't quite manage a smile back. It's hard to question such deep-seated beliefs.]

[Naminé blinks, her attempted smile fading. It's strange, hearing that from Nakama, because it's true for her, too. It's even stranger because, since Naminé hasn't been around very many people in her lifetime, she hasn't found anyone who had certain things in common with herself, and it's quite jarring to. Her eyes drift downward toward the plates.] ...What's best for them. [That's a question she's had to ask herself a lot.]

[She manages a little laugh.]

I think Souji would say "But what's best for you?"

[Her return laugh is small and a bit forced.] Right.... [But in Naminé's case, she thinks that probably shouldn't be an issue. Realizing she's still holding a dish, she sets the hand with the dishcloth in motion again.]

[Nakama works in silence for a moment, feeling much the same way as Naminé. It's more important to help others and do what's right than it is to worry about what she wants or needs. That's what earns respect. That's what's digging her out of her hole. People call her kind, they say she's thoughtful - and they like her. If her kindness stopped, that liking would probably stop as well. Were the pilots ever so kind as when she gave them their uniforms?

Her expression changes many times as she obviously struggles inside of herself. Letting Naminé help pleased her. Asking Souji and his uncle not to worry bothered them. Which way is up?]

[Naminé keeps her eyes on her work for a while, but they're distant. Her face doesn't betray her as much as Nakama's does, but Naminé's thoughts, too, are troubled. What's best for her? That's not something she's had much of a chance to consider - or, rather, allowed herself to consider. There's almost always been something to make up for, someone to help, someone so much more important than she is to look after. After her first selfishness, everything else has taken precedent. That first failure is a shame she'll always bear, and it continues to deter her from allowing herself to be selfish again. Returning to her Other would be for the best, for Kairi as well as herself - or so she hopes. That way, Naminé wouldn't be a burden on anyone anymore. Being whole would benefit both of them, wouldn't it? Or it would have, anyway, if she'd actually succeeded back when they'd had the chance. Now, with all the strangeness of this world, Naminé's not sure it's even possible while they're stuck here.]

[Blinking out of her thoughts, Naminé shakes her head. There's no use thinking about it now. She lets out a quiet exhale and glances over at Nakama to see how she's doing.]

[Feeling that gaze on her, Nakama puts on her best smile.]

That's the last of them. I think I'll leave cooking more for awhile, to see how many people show up. Wasting food would defeat the whole purpose.

[Feeling obligated to mirror it, Naminé gives a return smile. Hers, at least, is still somewhat genuine. She nods, hands still busy finishing up the last of the drying.] Okay. That's probably a good idea.

You don't - [have to stay, she thinks, but decides to reword it.] - are you going to stay?

[The girl blinks, then gingerly sets down the plate she was holding and reaches for the next, which is the second to last one left to be dried.] Do you want me to? [It's very benign, so it's hard to tell which one she actually wants to do, herself.]

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