asgardeventide | 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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I know they aren't always perfect, and they do things wrong, but they try hard. And they want what's best for us. It's hard, without...

[But she's dodging the father issue, both in case he's got a sad story and to avoid having to share her own.]

... well, just don't be too hard on her, okay? I'm sorry if she's done things to embarrass you, but I'm sure she cares about you.

[Even knowing how immature Yukiko can be, Nakama's sincerity has to be respected. The unfinished sentence is telling. Without -- what? It suddenly occurs to Conan that there has been no mention of fathers this entire conversation.]

Ah, Kaa-san's pretty resilient! You don't need to worry about her, Nakama-neechan ... but I'll remember what you told me!

Good. [She smiles a little.] Do you have any brothers or sisters?

[Dad: still absent.]

It's just me! Kaa-san wanted to protect her figure.

[That sounds so much like something her mom would say that she lets out a startled, sputtering laugh that sounds like it could turn into tears at any moment. But she keeps herself under control, and it softens into a fond smile.]

Y-Yeah, me too. I've always wondered what it'd be like, having a sibling.

[Conan's quiet, thinking about that. He's never felt any lack ... but then he and Ran were inseparable when they were younger, forever in and out of each other's houses. Junior High School, they started to grow apart as they pursued different interests and now ...]

I think Ran-neechan's like a big sister to me. She takes care of me so well -- and she always says she likes having me around to be her little brother. She's an only child too, and her Mum -- she lives in Tokyo still but she doesn't live with them.

You're lucky, to - have a friend like that. [Carefully not switching into past tense. Not everyone here is like her. Her smile is a bit forced, though. It's hard not to be envious, even of a friend.]

I think I would've liked one, but it's hard to say. Some people really seem to like having brothers and sisters, and some -

[A storm cloud passes across her face.]

- some don't.

I think it would depend a lot on the brother or sister. It's too bad you can't meet them first and decide, isn't it?

I would've loved and protected them no matter what. [Firmly.] But I know siblings don't always get along, so I don't think it'd be perfect or anything. Just... nice to have some company.

Ah ... Well, you've got lots of company here! Do you have any friends here in Heimdall?

Yeah, I do. [A very warm smile.] Morgana is my closest friend, and I have Hikari, and Sir Aaron, and lots of other people. Just about everyone in this house is really nice.

I know Morgana-san and Sir Aaron! They seem really nice.

Ne, what's Hikari-san like?

I... I think she was upset when she got here. [Very serious.] She almost seemed like she kept forgetting where she was, and she said some weird things. But she's really caring - she was in her pyjamas, with no shoes, and she wanted to take me to get food! I had to talk her into getting changed first.

She really does sound caring! You've been really lucky in your housemates, Nakama-neechan!

What about your housemates, what are they like?

My housemates?

[Oh boy.]

Well -- Lirael-neechan's nice! We're looking out for each other. And Ryouji-niichan's nice too ... Um. Ushinomiya-san also likes mysteries ...

Oh! I'm glad Lirael has another friend. She's... probably the shyest person I've ever met. [And from Nakama, that's saying something.]

And she's adjusting really well to coming to such a strange new place, I think! Though of course she's worried about getting home.

I hope everyone can go home when this is all done. It seems like they were all taken from such important times.

[They, not we. She still doesn't know if she can, after all.]

... they?

[It's like the past tense, her mind has just shifted to thinking about not leaving here. Even with the hope some have given her, she assumes she'll be dead if she's returned to her world.

But what can she say to him? He's so young - he shouldn't hear about things like that. She doesn't respond at all as her mind races, trying to think of a reason she wouldn't want to go home.]

Ne ... Nakama-neechan never said how she and her friends saved their world.

It's not a story you should hear, Conan. [Grimly.] But - there were sacrifices.

[Conan opens his mouth, but there's nothing he can say.

Sacrifices--

Part of his mind, the analytical part that never stops, wonders if this is what people feel hearing 'Conan' talk about brutal murders. Nakama's only 13 and already--]

[She regrets saying even that much at his response. All she can see, after all, is a child having to process the concept of losing friends en masse.]

Please, don't worry about it. We just did what we had to do. We all knew that, and we were all ready for it.

[A series of garish, but in her view necessary, lies.]