008 ✝ eighth step [action/written - backdated to event end]

[manmade_angel]

[Sleepily, Nill stirs in bed, shifting and cuddling up against another warm body. It's too early to get up, the monsters and worrying about Draco being outdoors while the

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[letsplaysurgeon]

[On a normal day, Muraki was a light sleeper, semi-conscious of the things moving around him. Right now, a smaller body was shifting closer to him and then drawing backwards like a wave. And the first thing he does is process that there shouldn't be another body in his bed...and then he remembers

[manmade_angel]

[Nill stops her progress out of the bed when Kazutaka sits up. He looks upset, maybe even angry or sick, and so Nill stays still and quiet, eyes down. Really, she's never been angry after experiments--only concerned for the feelings of the people she's interacted with during them. Haine, Ikki, and now Kazutaka and Draco.]

[She looks up when he finally speaks to her. It's sad, that yesterday Kazutaka sounded happy and warm, and now his tone is so different. Nill's hands grip her nightshirt nervously and she nods. An incline of her head asks if he's alright or if she should get him a glass of water or something.]

[letsplaysurgeon]

Good. [He takes note of the tilt of Nill's head before he reaches for his glasses on the end table and slips them on (making himself presentable) before he turns around to face her on the bed. His expression does soften a little bit into something gentle when he sees the concern written on her face. They weren't married anymore, but he didn't want to make her feel bad.]

I feel I should apologize to you, dear. Though the circumstances were out of my hands, I would've preferred that we met in a less awkward fashion.

[The corners of his lips curve upwards and he attempts humor.] I'm sure it was never your intention to be betrothed to someone twice your age.

[manmade_angel]

[Oh! Nill looks a little surprised--she hadn't thought Mr. Muraki was thirty--and blushes a little. It really was a little silly, for them to be married when Nill was still so young. Not to mention having a child that was older than she was... This was all just so embarrassing, why hadn't she noticed?]

[But it's true: the circumstances were out of their control, and their 'first meeting' was incredibly awkward now. Sitting in a bed they had shared for ten days in their pajamas...]

[Well, perhaps she could make it less awkward! Nill opens up her journal and fishes out one of her notecards and hands it to Muraki: 'Hello, my name is Nill. I can't speak, but I'll communicate as best I can with you.']

[At least that wasn't one of the ones Badou or Haine had written for her.]

[voice]

[rain_of_bullets]

[There's about a million other things he'd like to say about now, after everything that's happened, but most pressing seems to be getting Nill back and away from creepers people he doesn't trust.]

Where are you?

[Written]

[manmade_angel]

Community Housing 2--I can't remember the room number. But I believe it's Mr. Muraki's residence. I know the way back, I'm okay Haine...

[voice]

[rain_of_bullets]

[Muraki and Draco huh. He'll just be filing those names away. No reason. He can't really say much if she insists she's fine. It won't keep him from hanging around the door though, and waiting for her to come back.]

Yeah.

[action]

[manmade_angel]

[He's worried. Nill hasn't lived next to Haine with her eyes closed, she can tell when he's concerned for her. But she doesn't want to cause any extra concern. Mr. Muraki is a nice man, and Draco was the perfect son. Surely nothing bad could happen.]

[She's home within the hour though--and she hurried. Of course she had to say goodbye and her thank yous and gather the few things that actually belonged to her (namely the crown and ring Badou had given her), but after that she hurried home. She pokes her head in the door, looking around to see who's home.]

[video]

[purpledemoneyes]

[He can't help but remember how fond he had been of Nill, even if the memories have taken on a dream-like, distant quality.]

Nill, do you need any help getting home?

[written]

[manmade_angel]

I'm alright, Mr. Tsuzuki! I know the way back to my house.

Even if it was an experiment, you were a very good friend to me. Thank you.

[written]

[purpledemoneyes]

Don't thank me. You were a good friend to me, too.

Was it fun having a family?

[written]

[manmade_angel]

Yes, it was! The lady I stayed with before I met Haine was very nice, but I liked having a father and grandfather and a husband and children...

Is that weird to say, now that the experiment is over?

[hisdarkmark]

[Draco probably won't encounter Nill until she tries to leave the house, seeing how he's sitting by the front door. What an odd week...he couldn't help but feel rather disgusted with how close he was to Muraki...he knew who Muraki was, what he had done to his best friend.

But what was odder was the girl, Nill. She had to be almost four years his junior and yet he believed her to be his mother? He's going to ponder, and he's going to corner the girl when she appears because he wants to get things straightened out, thanks ever so.]

[manmade_angel]

[After Nill has gathered up what few things she actually considers to be hers, and said goodbye to Mr. Muraki, she tries to find Draco. But he isn't in his room, or anywhere else in the house, so she has to conclude that he awoke and left in a hurry. Which does make her a little sad--perhaps having Nill as a mother had struck some sort of wrong chord.]

[Which is why when she discovers Draco by the door, she's startled. But that feeling doesn't last very long when she realizes he looks upset. Nill may not be Draco's mother anymore, but Nill could never let someone be upset on their own. She glances briefly back inside, but decides there must be a reason Draco is outside. She closes the door quietly, and crouches down next to Draco, wondering why he looks so out of sorts.]

[hisdarkmark]

[He looks up when Nill approaches, giving her a semi-blank stare as he allows his mind to work through everything. Muraki...he'll deal with later. But this girl...it was actually sort of eerie that she was much like Narcissa in the way of doting him. Granted she was a bit more timid than his own mother, but it was nice having that feeling again briefly.]

I suppose I ought to apologize for my behavior this last week, but apologies aren't entirely my forte. [He's still making no moves to stand however. And he knows it's odd to want to know the answer to his next question, but it wouldn't feel right otherwise.] You're all right though, aren't you?

[manmade_angel]

[Everyone wants to know if she's alright--maybe she should feel more traumatized or upset? It's hard for her to feel that way though, since she'd never had a family before, and it was unlikely she would have one in the future. So the past week... was like a good dream for her.]

[But still, she reassures Draco that she's fine with a small nod and a hand on his shoulder. As far as Nill is concerned, there's nothing to apologize for.]