myjunes | 4;; ☁ [ AUDIO ] ( Slightly backdated to the morning after the nightmare event )

Entry tags:

4;; ☁ [ AUDIO ] ( Slightly backdated to the morning after the nightmare event )

[ When the feed starts there's first a brief pause before she speaks up, her voice shaky but obviously she's trying too hard to keep some kind of control over it. It's not working. ]

I want to go home..

[ There are bad dreams and bad dreams, and last night's was definitely the latter kind. If the whole stream of sights hadn't been bad enough already there had been something in there that had belonged to her personally, not to mention the glimpses of other familiar people. ]

I.. want to see dad again.. And th-- Mom..

[ She hics and there's a suppressed sob before she goes on. ]

P-please..

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[An eight hour watch shift is rough enough. With those dreams somewhere in between, Souji has not long arrived home and all but collapsed on his pallet. Sleep doesn't quite come - just dozing.

The sound of Nanako's voice - the sound of her choking back a tiny sob - is enough to wake him and he sits up, squinting for a moment in waking. And then he sees her frame curled over the communicator.

He can't move, for a moment. He's good at handling things, good at keeping his cool, but Nanako suffering in any way shape or form always amounts to something that borders on unbearable.

So within seconds, he's moving, and it's sheer force of will that stops him being rushed, being panicked, throwing his arms around her. Instead, he sits by her and wraps his arms around her, pulling her gently against him.

She's a little shaky. He can't quite breathe.

She wants to go home and that's one of the things he can't do for her. But he would, he would, he wishes he could. But he can't, and to wish for it is unrealistic, and Souji is the leader, Souji is the big brother, he can't be unrealistic. So he focuses on what he can do and swallows down his own anxiety, thinking of what to say.

It's okay? She knows it isn't.

When he speaks, his voice is low and soft and hopefully soothing.]

Hey.

[One of his hands moves to ruffle her hair a little.]

You've got me, Nanako-chan. I'm not going away, as long as we're here.

[ The moment she feels the hug Nanako drops the communicator to the floor. Normally she would be a little more careful with her things, but not right now, right now she's not even thinking of the fact that she was holding it only a few seconds ago.

Instead she props herself up as close to Souji as she can, and it isn't until the moment she buries her face in his chest that she dares to let another sob out and another. The shakiness of her body slightly increases, her shoulders jumping.

It feels nice like this, safe, protected, warm, (her big brother is here, it's alright, isn't it?) but she still can't stop the tears from coming. She didn't want to wake him up or she would have done so in the first place, but a hug is part of what she wanted and needed all along. It's a start, at the very very least.

Nanako nods, but it's a very slight and shaky nod. She doesn't say anything else (what is there to say, what could she say like this anyway?), it would just be smothered in the crying either way. ]

[He leans over her as if to wrap her up, as if he could protect her from everything and anything that would come. He knows he can't of course, but he will, somehow, even if it comes as a dream - and dammit, he's pretty shaken from those himself. There's a mutual kind of comfort in the embrace.

But he has Izanagi's quiet strength, and Tam Lin's presence like an extra sort of armour. She is just a little girl, who never should have had to see such things from her own mind, never mind the rest, never should have had to leave home.

Briefly, he wishes his uncle was there.

Tightening his grip, he wills himself to calm. He shifts to lean against the stone wall and holds her against his chest. Maybe he ought to speak - but his throat feels a little tight, his chest a little raw.]

[ After what is probably a few minutes but seems more like an eternity she manages to stop her tears after a sniffle. Nanako moves her head back just a bit so the front is not stuck to the other anymore, but leaves the rest of her body against Souji's as it is.

She stares down, still not speaking up for a few moments. When she lifts up her face to look at Souji she finally does speak up, her voice still weak and cracking slightly. ]

I-I know.. There's.. no way out of here. [ No matter how much she wants to see her dad, she can't, she knows. Suddenly those nights waiting seem like nothing compared to this. And as much as she loves her big brother - and his friends - they are not her father. They'll never be, they can't be. And you'll always miss what you can't have. ]

[No. They're not her father. He's not her father. And he knows that's what she wants, knows that's precisely what he can't give, and it makes his throat smart again when he meets her eyes, big and brown and watery.

The sight makes him think of the banshee, clinging to his coat as she warned him, but he manages not to look away. Manages to hold her gaze.]

Not right now. But we won't be here forever, Nanako. I promise, we'll go back.

[-soon, he almost says. But he can't. It's too uncertain. Too much like a lie.]

For now, we have to hold on. But you're not alone in that. I'm holding on with you.

[ Nanako nods again. It hurts a lot, being here without her father, having to deal with monsters and nightmares but.. she remembers the nights her dad was out she spent with Souji, she remembers 'family has to help each other' and 'you're my family too, so let's work hard together!'. Family. Sharing things together, sticking together, no one getting left behind. Her 'big brother' is her family too.

... Besides, her dad wouldn't want her to be sad. That she knows.

She moves her arm up to her face and attempts to wipe off the left over tears with it, still letting out another quick sniffle. ]

Uh-huh. We're.. together. [ Family. ]

We are,

[And he offers her a small, reassuring smile, hooking the end of his shirt sleeve around his thumb to reach over and gently dab at some of the tears that are still wet on her face, trickling down her eyelashes.]

lil sis.

[His smile grows and he lowers his hand to close it around one of hers.]

[ She looks back up at him, her eyes wide, and for a moment - a slight moment - it seems as if she's going to burst out into bawling again. But instead she closes her eyes and nods, drops of water still twinkling at the sides of her eyes. ]

Hmm! And it's kind of like at home, when dad.. would sometimes not c-come home at night either...

[ At least he was there more than here and-- no, she can't think of that now. She has to be strong too, right? Surely everyone in here misses their family and friends.. ]

S-so it's okay!

[When she closes her eyes, he pulls her back into his arms again, and gently kisses her hair.]

I know it might be tough - but as long as we're together, we'll be just fine.

[He smiles again, against her hair.]

Soon -

[He almost says 'you'. But then he remembers Nanako is from November.]

- we'll be back in Inaba - might have to keep this a secret, though.

[He gives a little chuckle.]

Your dad might think I've been reading you weird stories or something, otherwise.

[ She doesn't mind staying there in his arms a bit longer, the touch is familiar, nice and warm. At the very least she seems to have calmed down a bit for now; even though she's not entirely back to normal yet. ]

I'm sure.. Big bro is really reliable, so it will be alright. A-and I have to try my best too..!

[ At that last bit she stops for a moment though and her expression and tone turn a bit pouty. ]

... Would dad start fighting with you again over it?

Nana-chan...

[Teddie hesitates, unsure of how best to comfort her.]

...Don't cry, Nana-chan...

It's gonna be OK, I promise! From the bottom of my fluffy heart!

[ There's another small hic and even though it can't be seen on the feed she's rubbing furiously at her eyes. She can't cry in front of her Teddie bff! ]

Hmm, I-- [ She seems like she wants to say something, but stops. There's a pause and when she speaks up again it sounds so obviously forced. ]

T-that's just how.. this place is, right? Thanks, T-Teddie..

[He tries to sound even more determined, for her sake.]

If there's a way out of here, I'll find it!

They say bears have the b-best sense of smell out of all animals.. [ It sounds kind of bland, as if she's just repeating something she has heard somewhere else. ~~Probably on television, knowing her tv watching habits.~~ ]

So, um.. You probably wouldn't have as much trouble..

You better bearlieve we have the best sense of smell!

I'll do my best, Nana-chan!!

[ She still feels down, but oh god the bear puns, how can she stay sad? She tries to muster up the most happy-sounding voice she can in this kind of situation, but still doesn't get very far. ]

Uh.. uh-huh..! If it's you, I'm sure you'll find it in no time, Teddie..!

[baww :(]

... Nanako-chan?

[ There's a semi-long pause before she answers. ]

... Hmm..?

Are you OK?

I'm.. ... [ There's another sob that's only half stopped. ]

I miss dad..

[wellp. how to deal with this, other than with a long, awkward pause.]

... I know, Nanako-chan. It's OK.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

4;; ☁ [ AUDIO ] ( Slightly backdated to the morning after the nightmare event )

[action]

[ Action ]

Re: [ Action ]

[ Action ]

[ Action ]

[ Action ]

[ Action ]

[ Action ]

[ Action ]

[ Action ]

audio

[ Audio ]

[ Audio ]

[ Audio ]

[ Audio ]

[ Audio ]

[voice]

[ Audio ]

[ Audio ]

[ Audio ]

[ Audio ]