(ic inbox)

[despirit]

nikkari aoe

the actual nikkari, not an alt account

VOICE | TEXT | VIDEO | ACTION

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[stopbleeding]

[Zoro doesn't give a second glance at the disheveled room. Just goes to the TV and pops good old Rudolph in.]

I remembered a talking reindeer.

[does he really need to say anything else]

[despirit]

...Reindeer can talk?

[somehow he didn't think Zoro was too much of an animal lover.]

[stopbleeding]

He was like... a were-reindeer. Kind of like a buff kangaroo?

[he's an artist. what great descriptions. anyway on the couch?? bed?? with nika now as the bearded snowman talks. he's only really gonna give it half his attention.]

He was taller than me. Wearing clothes, too.

[despirit]

Okay, whatever life you're remembering, I can't tell if I want to know so bad it hurts or if I never want to know this buff dressed reindeer that talks.

[it's the story of Christmas, who doesn't know this, even him.]

You remember a name or just his size?

[stopbleeding]

[he opens a bag of popcorn just to throw a piece at nikkari's head. asshole.]

Just the size. Heard his voice, though. Kind of sounded young. Had a blue nose.

... You think Rudolph ever had a blue-nosed cousin?

[despirit]

[he tries to catch it in his mouth and fails miserably. now he has to put it in the trash before joining Zoro on the bed.]

Not out of the question. Could be a family trait - one kid gets red, another gets blue. There could even be a green in there somewhere.

Means he's a little like you though, being big and also somewhat young. Which means no, I definitely would want to meet him.

[stopbleeding]

Nice catch.

[grinning, he scoots over to give nika all the room he needs. tosses a bit of popcorn in his mouth and catches it perfectly. as a demonstration.]

You wouldn't want to meet him if he was old? Didn't know you had it out for the elderly, Nika.

[despirit]

[showoff.]

Hey, the elderly could easily kick my ass, I've got no quarrel with them. But I think anyone like you, reindeer included, would be someone I could see myself hanging with. Who knows, maybe your friend wants to celebrate Christmas in September too.

[stopbleeding]

[ok like. that's really sweet nika. but it's too sweet for zoro to understand how to handle it. emotions???]

If he does, I'll let you know. [actually...] ... If any of my crew pop up, I'll let you know.

[in zoro speak that's a pretty big thing. definitely a sign of that trust zoro's so cagey about.]

[despirit]

[for a moment, the joking atmosphere fades, and Nikkari's smile is real. he's known Zoro too long to not recognize when he's being serious about something, and he nods.]

I'd like that. If you remember what they look like, let me know - I'll keep an eye out for you.

[just because he hadn't seen them yet didn't mean they didn't exist, somewhere. this whole crazy business of reconstruction meant things were in the middle of being changed - not done yet.]

[stopbleeding]

Lucky you. Wrote up a list of descriptions earlier. I'll send them to you.

[which. he does. another copy/paste of this list sent from his phone to nika's pretty immediately.]

Reindeer's the only exciting one. Sorry to disappoint.

[despirit]

Why would it be disappointing? Worst that'll happen is I ask them if the name Zoro's familiar and they tell me no.

[Nika takes the list when it comes, saving it into the memos on his phone with some taps.]

We'll find them, Z. If you're here, they've got to be somewhere. I don't know why I feel like that, but I do.

[stopbleeding]

[the consolation is... touching? maybe the memories are making him softer, lowering his walls inch by inch. nika's never been the person he's felt closest to. only now does zoro wonder why.

he's good.

this is good.

that small smile zoro has is brief but telling–maybe moreso in how quickly it's covered up. the next minute he's forcing on a half-hearted scowl and lightly shoving at nika's arm.]

Quit it. Feels weird to be... [comforted. he waves a hand in the air as if to conjure the word.] Shut up and watch the fat snowman.