(no subject)

[mikangirl]

Who: Anyone attending Nami's birthday party. /o/
What: ...Nami's birthday party. 8|
When: Evening on the 4th July.
Where: The mikan orchard.
Summary: An impromptu last minute stubborn celebration of something that's fun.
Rating: ...P for pinwheels? 8|a


[Tis a mingling post. Mingle!  Seriously. The orchard's lit up, there is alcohol, there are snacks, there are mikan. There's also piles of coloured paper for much later, but that's another story. 

Backtag to your heart's content. We apologise for contributing to the glut of birthday posts that is early July. |D Popular month!]

Comments

[chikaidestroyer]

It happens once in awhile. [He waves a hand dismissively.] It certainly happened with you, in the beginning. [Because their initial conversation had nothing to do with war or the village in general. A rarity, really.]

[mikangirl]

[...she'd forgotten that. And then they discussed Zoro's sleeping habits... that actually brings a more genuine sort of smile. She still liked Luceti, back then.]

Clearly we need to meet in spas more often.

[She totally said that with a straight face.]

[chikaidestroyer]

Instead of tunnels, yes. A better atmosphere overall. [He gives her a wry look. It's the closest he's come to talking about that particularly chaotic time.]

[mikangirl]

Definitely. [...she shifts, leaning against the tree.] Though the advice was pretty sound.

[chikaidestroyer]

But ultimately of little use. [He glances at Nami as she leans against the tree. The tree they stand under is quiet and somewhat apart from the party, allowing some privacy.]

Yuber remained a problem until the end.

[mikangirl]

It wasn't entirely useless. [Well... some of it sort of fetched up against the standard Straw Hat creed. She'd given serious consideration to faking her own death to stop things getting much uglier, to be honest. But the crew would never have forgiven her. And if the crew didn't know, then...]

I never got the opportunity to put some of it into practice. And some of it I did. I appreciate the effort, anyway.

[...and she decides, in the end, to push it. Who knows when she'll get an opportunity after this?

So her voice is much lower when she adds:] Even if I'm not sure why you tried. Considering.

[chikaidestroyer]

[It tends to be inappropriate moments like this when Albert is most amused. He lifts his head to look at the leaves, allowing the silence to stretch a few moments before he responds.]

Under the circumstances, it was all I could do. Anything more would have raised his suspicion.

[mikangirl]

[...well. That's close to what she was hoping, actually. Nami hesitates. And decides to be blunt.]

You're his summoner, aren't you?

I'm getting you didn't decide to somehow bring him to Luceti. I just want to know what was going on.

[chikaidestroyer]

[He folds his arms low against his chest, his expression closed as he contemplates how to answer. Inwardly, he's somewhat amused that she has to ask for confirmation; the fact that she refers to him as Yuber's "summoner" told him it wasn't something she had come up with by herself.]

This world brought him here just as it brings anyone else; I had nothing to do with it. However, he remained bonded to me despite the time difference between us.

[mikangirl]

[The only thing Nami came up with by herself, admittedly, was process of elimination. But that's also what she wants to hear. It's the only explanation that seems to fit all the other things-- the people involved-- that she's had to take into account.]

...did you have any control over him at all?

[chikaidestroyer]

Limited. Very limited control. I have nothing to bargain with here, so he has little reason to listen to me. [It's an exaggeration, but not by much; if he had wished to constrict him more, he could have done so -- with further risk to the bond and his own safety.] I would even hazard to say he controlled me more than I him.

[mikangirl]

[...]

All right. That's mostly what I wanted to know. Though I'm curious what kind of control you did exert. [She has a few ideas about that, based on conversation she's had with Sanji in the past.]

[chikaidestroyer]

Curiosity kills, to modify an old adage. [But for once, his lips are rather loose.] He was not allowed to hurt children. And he was told not to attack those who did not attack first.

[...] So something as simple as throwing something at him could have fulfilled that requirement.

1/2

[mikangirl]

[A-ahahaha. GUILTY AS CHARGED yes okay she feels a little stupid now.]

[mikangirl]

[...still, that's handy to know. Well. In a retrospective sort of way.]

If he ever came back here, could you enforce the same restriction?

[chikaidestroyer]

[There were certain things that came back to Albert's mind repeatedly in Luceti. One of those things was the inevitable return of the black knight.

...Even with his chaotic nature, Yuber could prove even more problematic with certain variables.]

It's possible. But if he arrives from a very different point ... no. He has no qualms with attacking me as well.

[mikangirl]

All right. I'll keep that in mind.

[She tries to find a delicate way of phrasing it. He put restrictions on Yuber and didn't tell anyone...]

...

...is there any reason you didn't just tell people this before?

[chikaidestroyer]

[Any reason? There were many reasons, several of which boiled down to him not wanting to die as a result of underestimating the demon. When he laughs, it's quiet and hollow.]

Quite simply, I could not risk him overhearing. [And once Nu became a variable, speaking aloud became even more risky, as Nu was not restricted by another's orders.]

[mikangirl]

[It's the laugh that forestalls her next question, and Nami blinks at him in the darkness. And she does remember well that both conversations she'd had with him had been in the tunnels. She crosses her arms and glances away, having the grace to look a little uncomfortable.]

...well. I haven't told anyone, either. Though I'm sure Caesar knows I know. [But she doubts very much Caesar is an issue here.]

[chikaidestroyer]

[So now there they are, both standing under the same tree with their arms crossed and attempting to appear aloof. If the topic at hand was not what it was, it may have been amusing.]

Seeing as no one came after me, I figured as much. What I do not understand is why.

[He could make educated guesses based off of what he knew of Nami and what she knew about him, but there was always the possibility that Nami would surprise him again.]

[mikangirl]

Too many people I know would try dealing with Yuber by attacking you, and I didn't know your reasons. [Straightforward response. She may have considered being one of them. But too many things didn't make sense.

She hesitates.] ...and then there's Raine.

[chikaidestroyer]

[He says nothing when Nami mentions Raine, his expression unreadable as he looks off towards more of the mikan trees. The initial explanation Nami gave made sense, and he had expected her to say something to the effect of him being the demon's weakness.

But Raine? A very specific reason.]

Well, now you know. [Partial truths.]

[mikangirl]

Yeah. [And deliberately misconstruing that, she grins faintly.] But you know, I doubt there's any point trying to kill you horribly when Yuber's not around to notice.

[chikaidestroyer]

[He has to glance over at Nami to ensure that he is hearing her correctly; the joke is unexpected with the rest of their conversation.]

I would like to keep the need to horribly kill me down to a minimum, if possible.

[mikangirl]

[Such a deadpan response nearly makes her laugh outright. Her lips twitch up, but Nami just inclines her head at that.] I think that can be arranged.