[video] | [action open to Freya]

[redpaintednails]

Good morning...

[Mariko rarely if ever uses the network to make anything similar to a direct post. But this time there is... quite the reason to do so. The Mariko that appears on the feed looks very pale but composed, biting her lower lip a little, and acting with the slightly languid attitude of someone who, well, was crying until a while ago. Her voice sounds pretty clear when she speaks in her calmest tone, however.]

To everyone who knew her... I regret to tell you that Misonoo Nanako-san has gone home. If you wonder how do I know, her name is not in the list, and upon further inspection her room is empty.

[Not *totally* empty, though. Mariko *did* find something on Nanako's night table, but she won't mention that. So she lets out a sigh (that sounds a little like a choked sob) and weakly smiles at the "screen".] Thanks for your time. Don't worry about me, I will be all right.

[*Liar, you're a liar*, the voice inside her head says. *Nanako is gone, she's gone, she is truly and fully gone and you won't be okay, she may be alone against Misaki and her posse from now on back home, she's g o n e...* But again that's *her* issue, not anybody else's, and she's not gonna air it to the network.

So she quietly shuts off the feed, and it will take her a while to reply to anyone who contacts her over it. Additionally, anyone who passes by Mariko's Freya room will notice that her door is ajar so they're welcome to peek in; she's sitting on her bed with some letters on her lap, mostly calm at least on looks.]

Comments

[Voice]

[needsmoregreen]

Mariko? Hey, um...you're in your room now right?

[...]

What...room are you in?

[Voice]

[redpaintednails]

Ah, Bianca-san. I'm on the second floor, 204. And yes, I'm there.

[Voice]

[needsmoregreen]

All right then, just wait for me okay? I'm going be there in a couple of minutes!

[And with that, Bianca quickly zooms off to Freya! Lately, she's been on time to a lot of things but that's because a lot of things that matter appear to be popping up. Hilda needed help, she wanted to see the baby pokemon, and now this. As long as there's a friend in need, she'll always be there for them.

Which is why you'll be hearing a knock soon! This time, she's not quite as out of breath as before!]

Mariko...you're there right?

[action]

[redpaintednails]

[And the Mariko who looks up upon hearing her knock is a little surprised, as she didn't expect her to be here that soon! But after a small gasp, she gathers herself and gets ready to greet her. And with her best "face".]

Yes, I'm still here. Come on in, it's okay.

[action]

[needsmoregreen]

[Mariko, water u doing? As Bianca came walking in, she couldn't help but be a little nervous about talking to her. She didn't know who Misonoo was but that doesn't mean Mariko isn't a good friend of hers.

The problem now was how to carefully thread this. Hm...]

Um...are you up for a walk? It's cold out right now but the park can be really nice sometimes so...we can go out if you want!

[But she does understand having someone from your world just disappear on you like that]

[action]

[redpaintednails]

[Aw baby, you tried it's complicated okay? Nanako... well, she cannot still fully describe what she means for her. But she still looks up at Bianca and smiles a bit weakly, disguising her feelings some more. Can't make a little girl fret!]

I guess it will help me... [She places the letters under her pillow as fast as she can.] So yes, I'm up for it. And thanks for coming, too.

[action]

[needsmoregreen]

[Does she get that gold star? She knows that Mariko is trying her best to keep a smile for her sake but at the same time, Bianca knows that she can't do that. She was hoping that a walk might make things better but...now she's starting to wonder if she had made things worse.]

All right, um...just let me know when and we'll be right out! We better dress up warmly too because it is really cold outside! As cold as a Vanillish!

[AHAHAHAHAHA...ha...ha.......orz]

[action]

[redpaintednails]

[Platinum star for you. You're in luck Bianca, Mariko can't deny almost anything to her "baby" so even if she's not atop of the Asgard world and won't be in a long time, she'll try too.]

Vanillish, you say? [She's about to get up.] What are you talking about, Bianca-san?

[action]

[redpaintednails]

[So it is kinda like approaching a kitten or a puppy! This makes Mariko feel more self-assured and she allows Musharna to sniff at her hand, then makes a slow gesture as if to tell her to come closer.]

Hello...? Coming here, Musharna-san...?

[Is she doing it right? Hopefully so, she doesn't want the poor little thing to run away.]

[action]

[needsmoregreen]

[As Musharna continues to sniff her hand, she does take a step closer before allowing her to pet her on the head. She is still staring at the girl with a confused look.

She's not too sure what to think but if Bianca trusts her, then she can't be bad...right?

Meanwhile, Bianca lets out a small smile. It was good to see that her shy pokemon was slowly starting to branch out to other people now!]

[Audio]

[burntviolet]

... I'm sorry, Shinobu-san. She was an acquaintance of mine.

Is there anything I can do for you?

[Audio]

[redpaintednails]

[Man, hearing Hanako reminds her of their first talk. Such irony...]

Thank you for your concern, Ikezawa-san. I'm doing as well as I can, but you can drop by if you wish so.

[Audio]

[burntviolet]

[ Deja-vu, indeed. ]

Of course. If I'm not bothering you, I could pay a visit...

[Audio]

[redpaintednails]

You're never a bother. [That reminded her so much of Nanako, so she may have sounded a bit louder than intended.] Really, you are not. And yes, you can come if you want to.

[Audio]

[burntviolet]

Alright... uhm, where are you right now?

[Audio]

[redpaintednails]

I'm in Freya. Second floor, room 204. I'm not going anywhere else for today...

[Audio -> Action]

[burntviolet]

... I'll be there in a bit.

[ Hanging up. And about half a hour later, she'll be at the door, knocking. ]

[Action]

[redpaintednails]

[Mariko hears it! And biting her lip very lightly, she grabs the letters she had been re-reading (even if none were for her) and sets them aside. Then she swallows and opens her mouth, gathering her courage.]

Come on in, Ikezawa-san. It's all right.

[video]

[trinitylimit]

It really stinks when your friends leave, doesn't it?

[Sora's sympathetic to this, being someone who's left his friends and someone who's had friends leave him.]

[video]

[redpaintednails]

[A boy, and one she doesn't know! Mariko can't help shivering slightly, but she then remembers that she shouldn't give others reason to fret over her. Specially people she hasn't spoken to.]

I... wouldn't use that word. But it will never not be sad, I do agree with that!

Video

[seventeenpills]

I'm sorry to hear one of your friends has gone home, Shinobu-San. If you need any company, I'm here.

[A small, pensive looking pause.]

It's hard. Losing the people here we come to care about. I've had several of my own good friends go, too... So, I mean it. If there's anything I can do for you, just let me know.

Video

[redpaintednails]

[Well, he is the guy she doesn't go "no, no, DENIED" to, so she nods a little as she listens.]

Nanako-san wasn't only my friend. [And she bites her lip.] She was my friend that came from home, too. The one I related to the most here...

Re: Video

[seventeenpills]

Oh, no... that's awful.

[He could only imagine how heartbroken he'd be if Hanako left - it was bad enough losing Lilly, and he'd still had Hanako for some comfort upon their mutual friend's departure.]

I know I'm not from your world, but still, I'm here for you. It's not the same, I know. But I meant what I said, if there's anything I can do for you, just tell me so.

video;

[redpaintednails]

[She closes her eyes for some seconds, the moments spent with Nanako in this world of magic and gods flashing before her eyes. Finding each other in the streets, Nanako's illness, the time they went to the baths, Nanako being lost twice and then being found as well, their sort-of girls night. And all of them come back so fast, that she has to focus and make quite the effort not to crack and cry again. Specially not in front of, well, somebody else. Even if Hisao once saw her close to that.]

I... appreciate it, Hisao-san. [Deep sigh.] Very much so. Really.

Re: video;

[seventeenpills]

You're very welcome, Shinobu-san. That's what friends are for, after all. Take care of yourself, OK?