![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
[ today sort of feels like a bust in terms of learning anything useful, and while the kitchen doesn't exactly have anything else helpful nico finds himself drifting back that way. he's walking, and he seems to be talking to himself. ]
I already said sorry about the plain bagel. And jelly's messy, so you're not eating it in the bed. [ there's a disgruntled squeak, and nico enters the kitchen before stopping in the doorway when he realizes he's not alone. ]
...Hanako, right?
I already said sorry about the plain bagel. And jelly's messy, so you're not eating it in the bed. [ there's a disgruntled squeak, and nico enters the kitchen before stopping in the doorway when he realizes he's not alone. ]
...Hanako, right?
[ Hanako looks over from where he's standing by the window, staring out through the glass and catching Nico's reflection when he enters the room. ]
Huh? Yup, that's me.
[ He glances at the top of Nico's head, on his shoulders, by his feet, the usual places little invisible creatures like to perch, but comes up blank. ]
What's this about a bagel?
Huh? Yup, that's me.
[ He glances at the top of Nico's head, on his shoulders, by his feet, the usual places little invisible creatures like to perch, but comes up blank. ]
What's this about a bagel?
[ these are all good guesses, and nico seems to watch where hanako's eyes are going before he turns his body just slightly where he might notice the hood of his jacket is a little bulky. ]
My attempts at bribery yesterday were hit and miss, since I guess dry bagels aren't as good as bagels with jam. [ from the depths of his hood, two cat-like ears stick up, followed by two glowing white eyes that peer over the edge to stare at the other boy. ]
My attempts at bribery yesterday were hit and miss, since I guess dry bagels aren't as good as bagels with jam. [ from the depths of his hood, two cat-like ears stick up, followed by two glowing white eyes that peer over the edge to stare at the other boy. ]
[ Oh? What's that? That's not a little dood... Hanako leans forward in trying to get a better look at what's there, without necessarily taking another step closer. ]
Dry bagels sound more like a punishment than a bribe. [ He's on the little creature's side for this one ]
Is this one of yours?
Dry bagels sound more like a punishment than a bribe. [ He's on the little creature's side for this one ]
Is this one of yours?
[ it is in fact not a little dood. but since they stopped walking, a little shadow-esque creature crawls higher out of nico's hood and up onto his hair to stare at hanako with its white eyes. hi. it's vibin. ]
I didn't know, we're still experimenting with food. [ he looks up at the creature though and nods carefully as to not jostle it. ] You could say that, yes. It was the only one here when I woke up a few days ago.
I didn't know, we're still experimenting with food. [ he looks up at the creature though and nods carefully as to not jostle it. ] You could say that, yes. It was the only one here when I woke up a few days ago.
[ it's just a baby your honor. ]
All of them really liked pancakes, so a donut would probably be better. If we could find any. [ this sounds like solid advice to him? so. but he shakes his head. ]
No, I think I still woke up when everyone else did. I'm not even sure if it has been a few days by now. It feels like it though. [ internal clock and all. he hasn't bothered looking at the phones to see if they have clocks actually. ]
All of them really liked pancakes, so a donut would probably be better. If we could find any. [ this sounds like solid advice to him? so. but he shakes his head. ]
No, I think I still woke up when everyone else did. I'm not even sure if it has been a few days by now. It feels like it though. [ internal clock and all. he hasn't bothered looking at the phones to see if they have clocks actually. ]
[ no. stop. that's so sad actually. ]
There's five or six of them usually? They don't have abilities of their own, exactly, but they do listen to my commands when I ask them to. [ things he's not saying: they're his children. ] ...they used to be under someone else's order before they came to me, and I didn't want to trap them like that. So I gave them the option to do whatever they wanted with their lives and took them home with me when they decided to stick around.
There's five or six of them usually? They don't have abilities of their own, exactly, but they do listen to my commands when I ask them to. [ things he's not saying: they're his children. ] ...they used to be under someone else's order before they came to me, and I didn't want to trap them like that. So I gave them the option to do whatever they wanted with their lives and took them home with me when they decided to stick around.
[ His children... They kind of remind Hanako of the Mokke, the group of little spirits he's always chasing after to clean up the messes they leave behind around the school. ]
Sounds like a handful! I guess that means you have to be doubly sure to take care of themselves, so you can take care of them.
Sounds like a handful! I guess that means you have to be doubly sure to take care of themselves, so you can take care of them.
[ that's so cute? please tell nico about these spirits he'd be fascinated. as it is, hanako being who he is is the only reason nico's actually being as detailed about the little creatures. there's a wry little smile, and the creature settles on his shoulder now in an attempt to somehow get closer. curious baby... ]
They are, but we're adjusting. It'd be nice to wrap all of this up faster to get them back home. [ yes. his focus is only on the creature. nothing else. surely. ] ...depending if this competition they're talking about is real or not.
They are, but we're adjusting. It'd be nice to wrap all of this up faster to get them back home. [ yes. his focus is only on the creature. nothing else. surely. ] ...depending if this competition they're talking about is real or not.
[ They're little rabbit spirits who like candy... very cute... If Nico's likes jam and pancakes, they're probably not all that different, he thinks ]
That's an idea. All this effort for a fake competition... I wonder why!
[ A competition between a group of strangers made heroes makes no sense. There's really no doubt in Hanako's mind there's more to it than that, but also, it doesn't matter, does it? ]
Say, do you think your team has a chance at winning?
That's an idea. All this effort for a fake competition... I wonder why!
[ A competition between a group of strangers made heroes makes no sense. There's really no doubt in Hanako's mind there's more to it than that, but also, it doesn't matter, does it? ]
Say, do you think your team has a chance at winning?
Because when you tell people the things they care about are in danger, they're more likely to act than just doing it because someone asked. [ like. this just makes sense to him. he doesn't know why this is happening and he thinks the whole thing is stupid and unfair, but he can kind of guess that whoever is behind this competition wants something else from them. ]
I don't really have another option besides winning. [ it's not about if he thinks there's a chance or not. it's that he's going to make it happen by force or so help him. ] Why do you ask?
I don't really have another option besides winning. [ it's not about if he thinks there's a chance or not. it's that he's going to make it happen by force or so help him. ] Why do you ask?
[ True. Hanako would murder every other person in this place in a heartbeat to save what he cares about if it were in danger. ]
Haha, it's frustrating, isn't it? Knowing we're being manipulated, but having no choice but to go along anyways!
[ He does not answer Nico's question ]
Haha, it's frustrating, isn't it? Knowing we're being manipulated, but having no choice but to go along anyways!
[ He does not answer Nico's question ]
[ ...
The silence is maybe telling, along with all Hanako's said so far about being dead and the idea of a "future" not applying to him, but at the same time, there's conviction when he finally speaks up. ]
There's somebody I'm going to save.
[ Not "wants to" or "needs to" but "going to". There's no other option besides that ]
The silence is maybe telling, along with all Hanako's said so far about being dead and the idea of a "future" not applying to him, but at the same time, there's conviction when he finally speaks up. ]
There's somebody I'm going to save.
[ Not "wants to" or "needs to" but "going to". There's no other option besides that ]
[ he's silent, watching hanako for a moment. ]
Then I suppose the only advice I have left is try to remember what they would want you to do, and don't let other people stand in your way if they try to stop you. [ it's not good advice. this is just how nico thinks. ]
I've saved them before, and I'll save them again. I'm not considering anything else.
Then I suppose the only advice I have left is try to remember what they would want you to do, and don't let other people stand in your way if they try to stop you. [ it's not good advice. this is just how nico thinks. ]
I've saved them before, and I'll save them again. I'm not considering anything else.
[ you know what that's valid. ]
Sure, if you think so. [ does nico want to save everyone's worlds because it's fair and right and what heroes do? yeah. does nico know he'd also do whatever it takes to prioritize his own world and the people in it? also yeah. does nico realize not everyone will feel that way and may in fact just tell everyone else to figure it out themselves and good luck? yeah times three.
but what else is new? ]
But we'll have to see how other people plan on playing, if that's the case. I don't want to assume everyone's on the same page yet.
Sure, if you think so. [ does nico want to save everyone's worlds because it's fair and right and what heroes do? yeah. does nico know he'd also do whatever it takes to prioritize his own world and the people in it? also yeah. does nico realize not everyone will feel that way and may in fact just tell everyone else to figure it out themselves and good luck? yeah times three.
but what else is new? ]
But we'll have to see how other people plan on playing, if that's the case. I don't want to assume everyone's on the same page yet.
Page 1 of 11