Heaven's BBS | Video (because spelling is hard when you're six)

[welcome_home]

From: Nanshe
Date: June 18

[ The video opens to Nanako sprawled on her stomach, kicking her feet in the air behind her but her expression is one of serious thought. Although she looks a little shy and uncertain about leaving a message like this, she also looks pretty determined, too. This... hadn't been something she was sure about asking her big brother, so instead she tries here. Maybe that will be easier? Or people will be less quick to guess why she might be asking... ]

Sooo.... this is heaven, right? And where people go after they die?

If someone died a while ago, can you find them here somewhere?

Comments

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[rememberher]

[ She giggles a bit at that, waving with her free hand. ]

Hello!

[ That cheery countenance quickly shifts, however, sobers as Nanako begins to explain. She didn't remember... that was—

Sad. And hit a little close to home for Lux. Not being able to remember something that should be so simple, so important.

(But if Nanako didn't remember her, then how old could she have been when her mother...)

Her smile turning inwardly warm, Lux shakes her head. ]

It's all right if you don't remember; I'm sure that she would remember you. It might be difficult to find her here with so many people, but I'm sure we will.

What is her name? [ Not was. Don't say was. ] Let's start from there.

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[welcome_home]

Do you think so? [ Nanako sounds a little hopeful at that, because she hadn't been sure of that at all. She's grown up a lot since then, and that's not even taking into account that none of the shinki here could remember anything from before. ]

Her name is Chisato! Chisato Dojima.

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[rememberher]

[ Honestly? That thought had occurred to her as well, but Lux hardly wanted to dampen the young girl's spirits. She didn't have it in her. ]

Chisato Dojima. Hmm, all right. Give me just a moment! Let's see, something to write with...

[ Did they even have something like that around here? Her god was a bit... cheap tight with money and didn't seem to want to spend on anything unnecessary. But surely she should have something!

Come on, Nanako, let's go for a trip around her room. Which, admittedly, is a bit sparse right now, sadly. But she does manage to find something after a moment, and begins noting things down. ]

Is there anything else that you can tell me about her? If not, that's all right.

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[welcome_home]

Umm... [ Nanako stops and tries to think about all she knows. Which... isn't all that much, but she does her best. ]

My dad said she was a lot like me, but I remember her having longer hair than mine. She had a pretty laugh and she smelled like flowers and she wore pretty dresses. She liked picnics and reading stories and she could sing really pretty.

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[rememberher]

[ Lux nods throughout all of this, taking notes. Circling a few things. Really it wasn't too much to go on, but she does her best to keep an encouraging smile on her face.

Her pen taps on the page for a moment in thought. This was going to be like finding a needle in a haystack, especially if the woman didn't remember her daughter. Which was...

She pauses. ]

What is your father like, if you don't mind my asking? Do you have any other family? Any brothers and sisters?

[ Her smile sobers a bit as she sets her pad and pen down. ]

I'm sorry, I don't mean to be personal, I'm just... I'm curious is all. I don't know what it's like to have a family.

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[welcome_home]

[ It's a reminder that there are worse things here than not being certain where her mother is. The shinki don't even have that much, although Nanako wonders if you can miss someone if you don't remember them? She's not sure she understands how that works and isn't sure if she wants to. But it has her tone turning solemn and subdued as she answers, her tone wistful. ]

My dad's a police detective, a really good one. He catches a lot of bad people and makes sure they can't hurt anyone. It keeps him really busy, though. [ Even though he'd gotten a little better at that, after she'd gotten out of the hospital. ] It was just me and him for a long time, until my big brother came to live with us. Ah, he's actually my cousin, but he's more like my big brother now. He's really nice and played with me. We did lots of fun things together. He's here, too. Another god. I live with him, and his shinki.

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[rememberher]

[ Nanako, please don't be sad for her, because as far as Lux was concerned, she was lucky. Yes, she died. No, she couldn't remember her former life, which was... an adjustment that she was forcing herself to cope with despite stroll struggling with where she fit in and the thought of losing something important. She hardly ever thought of it now.

So please, if you're going to make that kind of face, let it be for someone who is sad, or struggling with the current state of things. Although it does get the girl a somewhat fond, soft sort of natural smile in return. You really were a good kid, weren't you? ]

Your father sounds wonderful. A police officer...

[ She looked up in thought. She wasn't 100% sure what all that entailed, but from her short ventures into the near shore... ]

Something like that must have kept him busy, then. But that's a very noble cause. He sounds like a good person.

[ Oh, and a brother--no, cousin, sorry. She blinked once in surprise. ]

Your brother is here as well?

[ Sorry Nanako give her a second, that was... interesting. Don't mind her as she grabbed her notebook and scribbled something down. It's not important. ]

What is his name? I might know him.

[welcome_home]

Yeeeeah. Dad was always busy a lot, because there are always lots of bad guys to catch. But he's a really good detective.

[ At the mention of her brother, her face lights up a bit more. ]

His name is Souji!

[ At least this is a topic Nanako loves to talk about. ]

I live with him at his temple. And with his shinki, too. He's the best.

[rememberher]

Lots of bad guys, huh? Then it's a good thing that your father was around.

[ Lix smiled brightly then, trying to make her note-taking as discrete as possible. Most of this was to help aid the younger girl on her mission, but at the same time...

Her cousin was here as well. That seemed odd. Maybe it would be a good idea to learn as much about this girl as possible, to figure out if there was some sort of reason why certain people were being brought here to replace those missing gods. ]

Oh.

[ That surprised her. Wasn't every god supposed to have their own domain, and thus their own space? Or was it because she was so young? Living (relatively) on her own must have been a hardship, after all. ]

You don't have your own temple, Nanako? What about your shinki?

[welcome_home]

[ Nanako hums, because if she does, she hasn't found it yet. ]

I don't think so. But my shinki lives here, too! Onii-chan's house is really big, so there's lots of room.

[rememberher]

[ ...Wasn't that a bit odd? She should have a temple, right?

Ah, but no matter. Her smile smooths over quickly. ]

It's great that you can stay with family and still have your shinki with you. I imagine that makes it easier to be away from home. That must be hard; you're a very brave girl, Nanako.

[welcome_home]

I am?

[ That hadn't occurred to her at all. She didn't often feel very brave. ]

[rememberher]

Of course!

[ Said like it was the most natural conclusion someone could come to. Chin tipping downward,her eyes closed, the older blond smiles. ]

You may have your cousin here, but I can only imagine how hard it must be to be away from the people you know and love. Being able to be so optimistic despite that, and wanting to help others be happy; I have no doubt in my mind, you're a very strong and brace person.

[welcome_home]

[ The praise has her cheeks flushing happily as she ducks her head and fidgets in a sudden bout of shy pleasure. ]

Maaaybe. I never thought I was all that brave. I still get scared really easy sometimes. But I like it when everyone else is happy. Especially if I can help.

[rememberher]

[ Ah, had she said too much? Sorry Nanako, she was prone to doing that from time to time. Her expression softening, Lux's smile grows warm. ]

Can I tell you a secret? Brace people can get scared sometimes too. Even me. What makes them brace is that they keep trying, even if they're scared.

[welcome_home]

[ That actually brings Nanako's gaze back to the screen, and to Lux's face, lips curving up in a smile again. ]

My big brother told me that, too. And he's one of the bravest people I know.

[rememberher]

[ Oh, that's really sweet. Her smile grows, eyes closed and head tilting to the side. ]

It sounds like your big brother is very smart as well, then. I'm glad that you have someone like that here, to help out when you need it.

[welcome_home]

He is! And I'm glad, too. If you ever need help, too, Lux, you can let me know! I don't know how much I can help, but I'll try.

[rememberher]

[ She nods enthusiastically, smiling brightly. ]

I definitely will! There is still a lot about this place that I don't know or understand, but having a friend like you to help out makes me feel a lot better. Thank you, Nanako.