2018-06-28 - LOTUS INCEPTION: Nanoha Takamachi
| LOTUS INCEPTION: Nanoha Takamachi | |
|---|---|
| Summary: Nanoha and Fate meet in her dream and Fate helps her see the truth. | |
| Who: | |
| Where: Rainbow Bridge | |
| OOC - IC Date: 6-28-18 - 4-24-15 | |
<Pose Tracker> Nanoha Takamachi [Infinity Institute (5)] has posed.
It is a perfect day in Tokyo. The sky is clear and the weather is not terribly warm. Shiro and Mimoka hold hands as they walk behind their youngest daughter and her friends. Her brother and sister hang back too, allowing Nanoha and her friends to walk together. After a lunch at the Midori-ya, the family decided to take a walk and ended up here. Nanoha talks excitedly to her friends, not paying attention to the cars that fly past them causing her hair to ruffle. It's like her and her friends are the only ones in the world right now.
As they approach Rainbow Bridge and reach the top, Nanoha stops and steps up onto the edge of the railing a little. Just enough to see out across the city. It's a breathtaking view from up here. She looks back to Arisa and Suzuka, "This is so cool! Come over here guys!"
Her friends look at one another as if they are trying to decide and then they finally join her, stepping up on either side of Nanoha. Momoko watches them and calls out, "Be careful Nano-chan. Don't slip." The young girl gives her a thumbs up, "It's fine mom! It's not like we can fall off the bridge." Nanoha laughs and looks back out across the city.
Her family doesn't join Nanoha or her friends for the moment. They seem to have grown oddly quiet and Momoko lays her head on Shiro's shoulder, whispering something to him, and he nods. Her brother and sister sigh to themselves and Miyuki comments, "I don't think I have ever seen Nano-chan this genuinely happy before. At least not... in awhile."
<Pose Tracker> Fate Testarossa [Infinity Institute (5)] has posed.
Tokyo is Tokyo. In the dream world - one travels through hundreds of Tokyos and the same one all at once. Since the small happiness that so many girls cherish is so normal.
Fate Testarossa is on the opposite pedestrian side of the bridge - leaning up against the railing.
<Sir?>
Fate Testarossa is quiet as she glances over her shoulder at Nanoha being so happy. It's like she's loathe to interrupt it. Of all the people she's the one she's the most hesitant to interrupt.
Closing her eyes for a moment... she allows the weight of the bridge to support her.
"Bardiche... would you mind playing it again? Just... the ending."
<Of course Sir. Playing 'A Small Wish.' Beginning at the end of message.>
Bardiche's tone changes. As the message becomes a recording. <To my kind and gentle Fate. I hope you are able to meet someone who laughs with you when you are happy. Feels sad when you are upset. Someone who can move side by side with you into the future - and is able to be open and honest with you. ... A loving friend.>
She takes a final breath with a smile. "Alright. I'm ready."
<If you're ready. Then what are you waiting for Sir?>
And then she doesn't start to walk. She runs. "Nothing... nothing at all."
BGM Change: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOnXWk-Bwno
She runs down the entire pedestrian side of the bridge - almost stopping short when the green pedestrian light changes to a timer and a red blinking animal with a hand up in caution.
Instead she doesn't stop. She runs across the crosswalk, then without missing a beat runs up the opposite side.
With a child's ease, she ducks and dodges - threading through other pedestrians without breaking stride as she sprints by column and column of the suspension bridge, arms slicing through the air.
As she comes up ahead of the crowd she starts to laugh - free and clear even if she now sounds a little winded. A smile on her expression.
After all, it's not every day that you meet a good friend for the first time again.
She can see her again in the distance. She can see her friends with her - her family - but most importantly her.
"Nanoha!"
She shouts her name the moment she comes within earshot. Maybe in this dream Nanoha doesn't know who she is... in fact she thinks it's really likely.
But when you greet a friend - you call their name.
When the other girl's head turns - she'll almost be on her. All but skidding to a stop. The light is bright today - so in the sunglare it might be hard to get a good look at first. But as it fades from Nanoha's eyes. Maybe she'll seem more familiar than by all rights she should.
A girl who's wearing casual clothing. A yellow and white striped shirt - a white skirt. A dark black jacket. And bright blue-ribbons adorning two long blonde twintails.
Out of breath, she leans against the rail and catches her breath, then smiles - and laughs again, "I know you're here with your family and friends today... but can we talk?" A beat, "I've... come far away just to see you."
<Pose Tracker> Nanoha Takamachi [Infinity Institute (5)] has posed.
Just as Nanoha begins to lean more over the bridge, looking at the traffic below them, the sudden call of her name makes her spin around quickly. So quickly that she almost loses her footing, stepping from the edge of the railing back onto the sidewalk. Luckily, there is no danger of her falling over but still, she stumbles a bit as she looks to where her name came from.
Squinting for a minute, the blond-haired girl quickly comes into view. Nanoha doesn't seem to recognize her. "Um, yes?" She seems confused. Was she a schoolmate? Customer from the bakery? But she called her by name and as she stands there trying to place the girl for a few seconds, she cannot help but feel that somehow she knows her. She is... familiar.
As Fate asks if they can talk, Nanoha begins to feel uneasy but she looks to Arisa and Suzuka who don't seem surprised at this intrusion and they reassure her. "It's fine Nano-chan. Go. We'll be right here if you need us." Nanoha smiles again at them. "Okay."
Walking over to Fate, Nanoha looks a little nervous. "So, what do you want to talk about? You said you came from far away... to see me? Do you need help?" It becomes harder and harder, the longer she looks at this girl, to ignore the sense of familiarity she has. It's the same sense one would get from not seeing a loved one for a long time.
<Pose Tracker> Fate Testarossa [Infinity Institute (5)] has posed.
Does she need help?
Fate Testarossa gives a firm shake of her head with a smile, shifting her blonde twintails. That smile on her expression doesn't change. It's almost like right now she just can't doubt herself.
"Actually... I came here to help you."
Drawing herself up, a crosswind causes the breeze to shift. "You're happy here." Fate notes, "But is this the way things are supposed to be?"
She asks rather mildly. "You used to tell me that even though you were taken care of - that you wanted for nothing. That you didn't have a single reason to feel lonely - and yet you did all the time."
She puts a hand to her chest. "It was this sad and painful feeling - the feeling of not knowing where your life was going - in your search for a purpose. You had that feeling since you were very young - and you couldn't shake it."
After a moment, she adds, "Things have been sad and frightening lately. So I can understand why you'd doubt the answer you'd found - but... I know without a doubt that you made the right choice. I know this because you changed my life - Nanoha... for the better."
She closes her eyes for a moment, and when she opens them, it feels like even those scarlet irises are smiling. "I know this because when I was offered what I thought I wanted - I chose my life with you instead."
<Pose Tracker> Nanoha Takamachi [Infinity Institute (5)] has posed.
'Is this the way things are supposed to be?' That question makes Nanoha pause. Even if she was happy right now, the growing feeling that something wasn't quite right was ever present in the back of her mind. And then as Fate continues, Nanoha listens intently and as if remembering some distant memory, as if she was remembering and thinking of another life. It's a disconnect that feels odd and yet she also knows exactly what Fate is talking about.
"Even with all of that though..." Nanoha's voice shakes and she finally stops fighting the thoughts she has tried so hard to keep away because not accepting the truth would mean losing the most important person in the world to her. Memories grow stronger and finally, Nanoha speaks again, "Feito-chan...you came here for me...." She looks back to her family and friends for a moment.
Suddenly, Nanoha reaches out and embraces Fate tightly, "Y-you...changed my life too. If I hadn't met you..." Nanoha sighs. "Maybe this is what I wanted because it was easier. It's easier to not deal with what's on the other side you know?" A pause. "But...I want to be with you always. I want to help you, Endo, Lera, Steven... everyone. We fought so hard for what we believed in..."
<Pose Tracker> Fate Testarossa [Infinity Institute (5)] has posed.
Fate can tell she's getting to her right away. She thought she might. After all - her happiness with her friends and family.
That's a world that can exist for Nanoha. By giving this up - she's not rejecting any of them.
When she asks when she came from her. Fate just offers a small nod, that smile still plain on her expression.
And then when Nanoha hugs her, she throws her arms around her instantly in embrace. "Nanoha!" Squeezing so tight, it's like she never intends to let go again - but what she says.
"I think it's okay to long for something simpler when things are difficult."
Taking a breath, she steadies herself, still clinging to her around the arms. "My life hasn't exactly been simple. It's been... complicated."
And there have been so many terrible moments within it...
And yet, she's still smiling, "But my life being so complicated is how I met you - and I wouldn't trade that for anything."
<Pose Tracker> Nanoha Takamachi [Infinity Institute (5)] has posed.
Nanoha nods in understanding at Fate and a few stray tears run down her cheeks. "I know you're right and even going back to that doesn't mean I lose my closest friends and my family but staying here... that would mean losing everything I have gained and everything we have worked for."
She finds herself suddenly realizing how much Fate was likely giving up by choosing a life with her and her words only further confirm that. "Feito-chan, you're so strong. You have more courage and strength than anyone I know. Even though things have been really horrible, you still find reasons to smile and to have hope."
Nanoha smiles more easily now at Fate. "We have to face this together and stick together...always." She hugs Fate one more time before her family and friends close in on the girls. Her mother speaks first, "Nanoha-chan, this doesn't change anything. We will always be there for you. Remember that okay?" She leans over to give her daughter a kiss on the forehead and turns to Fate. "Thank you Fate... for being such a good friend to Nanoha. She is really lucky to have you."
Nanoha smiles, wiping away the last of her tears and waving to her friends before she looks back to Fate, "I am ready... let's do this Feito-chan."
<Pose Tracker> Fate Testarossa [Infinity Institute (5)] has posed.
Some things people have to work through for themselves. So when Nanoha says that - so tearfully, Fate doesn't say anything. Instead she let's her cry, just clinging to her. Not all crying is sad after all. It's a happy sort of tearful. She just nods.
But then she says something so complimentary, and Fate smiles. "Someone special raised me to be strong. But I don't think I actually was strong until I came to accept you as my friend." She prompts gently, "It was you that taught me how to be strong Nanoha. So there was no doubt in my mind that you'd be strong right here and now - when faced with the truth."
And then - "I wasn't ready to face things before - too much was holding me back. But I met... I met someone precious and important who helped me come to terms. And now I'm ready to face it - walking forward with you."
After another quick hug, she parts - and allows Nanoha to say goodbye to her family. They may not be real but - they want her to be happy. And that's important.
"I'll take good care of her." She vows.
And then... when she says she's ready, Fate quietly reaches out for her hand, and places it within the other girl's palm. With a quick squeeze she says, "I'm ready too. Let's go."
She may not know exactly how the two are going to get out of here.
But she knows it'll be together. And that's good enough.
