asgardeventide | video and action; 1st Snowflake

[Normally when a person connects to Asgard's network, they greet villagers with a view of their face. However, this particular new Traveller is busy showing the city…snow. In particular, the fresh snow and frost that graced the city just two days prior to his arrival. Lots of snow, because this particular new Traveller just tried to fly and promptly fell into the snow instead. There's a frustrated sound from Jack Frost as he stands up, bracelet turning to face the snow again. Good thing nobody saw that. He's not really thinking about whether anyone can hear or see him though. The whole "being seen and believed in" thing? Still sort of hit and miss with this guy, and he's working under the assumption that most people still can't. However he's very much visible to anyone looking. They'll see a white-haired boy covered in snow and walking through the city like it's no big deal. Oh yeah, and without shoes. He's still not showing his face to the bracelet for the network to see, but he's soon speaking up to talk his way through the situation.]

Uh huh. So the fate of all existence rests within my hands. Thaaat sounds kind of familiar. [Speaking of hands, one of his hands soon appears as he bends down while walking, scooping up some snow to form a snowball.]

What I want to know is who beat me to it. [That snowball starts getting tossed up and down.] Because this? This isn't my work. [The snowball stops getting tossed and he brings it up, presumably, to his mouth to try and work some magic on it. No such luck though. He immediately stops in his path, giving the snowball a curious look.

Okay, well, how about we make it snow? …no luck? What about fros--okay, no luck there either.]

You gotta be kidding me. I mean I get it, I have a new power. [In fact, he's going to test the strength of his new power, using his mind to create snowballs without his hand and allow them to float and hover around him.] …which is kind of cool, I guess. I get that supposedly old powers won't work, but how am I supposed to be a Guardian if I can't even make the snow come?

[Aw well…even if he can't make new snow, there's no sense wasting the snowball that's in his hand. So what's Jack going to do? He's going to take a look around…and that snowball's suddenly getting launched…who knows where. If another traveller's nearby, it might just hit them. Totally on accident. Really. Oh come on, he's still working under the assumption that most people can't see him. Someone missed the memo that when they say everything's been stripped, they mean everything. So assuming that there's no harm done here, he'll just start to walk off with his telekinetically-created snowballs drifting behind him like baby ducks following their mother.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

So Nakama is like addressing your best friends. I didn't know the bonds were so important.

I've only been to Japan a few different times but I'm not familiar with the myths of the country. Do you guys have a lot of them?

It's even more than best friends. It's... [A lump rises in her throat, and she glances away for a moment. Knowing that she's been home, and she still couldn't reach them - it's weighed on her mind.] ... it's hard to explain, like I said. But you know them when you have them.

[Clearing her throat, she gathers herself again and nods.] I guess most places do, though. People always want to explain how things happen, and before science, there would be stories like that. [She glances at him quickly, not wanting to offend him again.] It's cool to think that so many could be true, though, like you, and maybe it's science that's making up the stories.

[He's observant enough to notice the subtle shift in her demeanor...so he's quick to change the subject.] I think I get it.

I've never been that fond of science. Science just writes a lot of things that I know to be true and it causes a lot of people to stop believing. I mean yeah, sure, I'm sure there's some good about it but it's way too set in stone to even let people think outside the box.

[She gives him a small, thankful smile, but her face quickly falls. Not upset this time, just - deeply pensive.]

Sometimes it's hard to believe in much of anything. You just think, if there was something bigger watching over you... or some special force out there, like magic... then things would have to be better somehow.

Hey we're trying the best that we can. Sometimes it's hard when you guys don't listen.

No, that's not what I meant... [She cringes away, hanging her head.] I'm sorry. Maybe I'm the wrong person for you to be talking to. I was never really much of a kid.

[She puts up her hood, moving as though she's about to walk away. She just doesn't want to offend him any more.]

...hey, no, wait a minute. What do you mean?

[She turns back, surprised, and gives him a thoughtful look before speaking.]

No one... really liked us back home. My mom and me. As soon as I was old enough to understand what people were saying, I realized that they were always insulting us. It just got worse as I got older.

I guess I - [She swallows, playing with the folds of her oversized cloak.] - I grew up really fast so my mom wouldn't have to deal with that alone. I didn't have time for playing or imagining or... believing.

[...wow...what a bummer. Not what he was expecting at all either. He doesn't say anything for a few moments as he thinks on this. What would it be like living a life where playing, imagining and believing didn't even get a chance to exist?]

Well. From where I'm standing? Looks like you've got a lot of time now.

[That earns him another little smile. What a kind thing to say.]

I try, but people still say I work too hard. They're always telling me to relax.

Well what do you do around here? [Nakama does he have to make it a personal mission to make you relax.]

Um... I just found a new job, and I live outside of the god housing with two of my friends, so I have to work full-time for awhile so that I can make my share of the rent and chip in for food and everything again. Eventually I'll start volunteering at the hospital again when my pay's higher, and I train in self-defense and with some small weapons in case I ever have to help the healers during an attack. I work with the Teachers' Council, who help new people learn how to use their powers.

... I think that's all of it?

Wow, Nakama. Ever heard of a vacation?

[She huffs, crossing her arms over her chest.]

I spend time with my friends, too! But it's important to help wherever you can, especially in a place like this, where so much is riding on our shoulders.

Yeah okay I get it, responsibility's important. But what about fun? You don't think being happy is important, too?

Being happy... [She tilts her head, smiling softly.] I've been really happy here, sometimes. Most of the time. I've had experiences here that I never could've had at home.

[Her smile turns a bit bashful.] But I know I could do better at having fun.

I guess happiness doesn't always have to tie into fun, but it's definitely easier. So first thing's first. What do you like to do?

Oh, um - well, sewing is my favourite hobby. But it's my job too, so I don't know if it counts.

What about sewing costumes and dressing up in them? Like Halloween.

You mean... just on a normal day?

Why not?

People would stare! And laugh!

What makes you so sure?

B-Because it's not normal to do that! And people don't like things that aren't normal! They laugh, or say mean things, or treat you really badly!

[She's leaving panic behind now, starting to get emotional. Even after all the acceptance she's found here, the idea of flouting societal norms that blatantly is terrifying.]

Nakama, hey, it's okay. [Wow that's not what he was expecting.]

Look...I promise not everyone will laugh or say mean things or treat you badly, okay? People just aren't like that most of the time.

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