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

[myjunes]

[ 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..

Comments

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[myjunes]

[ 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. ]

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[toplay-thefool.livejournal.com]

[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.

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[myjunes]

[ 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. ]

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[toplay-thefool.livejournal.com]

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.]

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[myjunes]

[ 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!

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[toplay-thefool.livejournal.com]

[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.

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[myjunes]

[ 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?