how long, baby, have I been away? [open]

[yournewsidekick]

Who: Nimona, you, and... Ballister Boldheart?!
What: Nimona finally opens the gift Efrain gave her back in March.
When: May
Where: All around!
Warning(s): None yet, will edit if anything crops up

A couple months ago, Nimona got a present.

She felt kinda silly about the whole thing afterward, once she was clear of the fog Efrain cast over the worst karaoke night ever. Sure, she missed Ballister. Of course. But she had other friends to keep her company until she got home, right? They wouldn't be stuck here forever. The barrier'd come down eventually.

Maybe she would've kept on thinking that if the Polaroids hadn't washed ashore.

But one day, she looked around her room at the Oak & Iron, where she'd thumbtacked up all those memories of the best night of her life with the first person who ever really saw her, and it wasn't enough anymore. All the friendship she had here, the weirdos who didn't bat an eye at her, the people -- even humans! -- who saw her passing by and didn't think monster; what was the point? She still woke up most mornings and had to stifle herself from yawning morning, boss. Whenever something cool happened, Ballister was still the first person she wanted to tell.

So Nimona dug out the Black Heart Locket, looped it around her neck, and opened it.

-----

There's a new resident of Pumpkin Hollow. Sort of.

Tall, thin, and angular, he'd cut a more striking figure if he wasn't translucent, a shimmering specter who's never seen without Nimona close by. His prosthetic right arm looks way more modern than anything else anybody's wearing: not the steampunk transformation one would expect, but outright, intact robotics. He's got the kind of expressive dark eyes that can't hide anything.

But oh, you can tell he's trying. He smiles gamely at Nimona's chattering, tries to joke with her, listens to her stories without his attention wandering too much. It's evident to anyone, though -- except, perhaps, Nimona herself -- that he's absolutely miserable.

(Then again, maybe it's evident to Nimona, too. Maybe she's also trying as hard as she can.)

They're all over town; primarily the Oak & Iron, but other spots around downtown Hollow, too. Once or twice she shows him the forest or the beach. Catch them anywhere. Nimona would love to introduce you to her boss.

Comments

[yournewsidekick]

"I suppose," says Ballister, still sounding rather unconvinced. "Unless you scare them so badly they drop dead -- "

"Ugh, boss, come on," interrupts Nimona. She's laughing a little. "If anybody dies here they pop back to life in a day, anyway, it's no big deal."

Ballister's silent for a moment, at that. "Right," he says eventually.

Nimona's stomach drops at his tone. For a split second, she wants to backtrack -- apologize, even -- and tell him that no, she gets it now, it is a big deal, she died four times on that stupid cursed cruise and hated it every time, but it's also not like...

She doesn't know what to say. So instead, with forced brightness, she says to Valdis, "So hey, what brings you out here? Any good hunting? Just taking a stroll?"

[redlightgreenlight]

Valdis tips her head, still curious about Ballister and his lack of true connection. She's certain that Nimona is aware, she's never seen her feel so defeated as she does in her interaction with her friend. Yet, there are all sorts here, perhaps that is simply how Ballister is.

It's nice to be able to stretch my legs. We never could on...where we were. But we can here, so I'm spending as much time as I can out in nature. I missed it.

She steps forward to nudge Nimona gently.

What about you?

[yournewsidekick]

Ballister can't hug her, can't even tap her on the arm or hold something she hands him -- but her other friends can. Nimona swallows and lifts a hand to the side of Valdis's muzzle, giving it a small, grateful scritch.

"I'm just showing Ballister around," she says. "There's a ton of stuff we gotta catch up on. I haven't seen him in like eight months. You got any ideas where I should take him next?"

Behind her, the spectral Ballister grimaces, clearly not happy that Valdis might suggest their next destination.

[redlightgreenlight]

Valdis closes her eyes as Nimona scratches her, appreciating the affection.

There's a meadow down the road from Cesar's farm. It's full of wildflowers right now and a lovely place to watch the clouds.

[yournewsidekick]

"Yeah?" She brightens a little, glancing over her shoulder to Ballister. "Boss, whaddya think?"

Ballister blinks, clearly not expecting such a downright normal suggestion. Tentative, he says, "That does sound lovely."

Even that tiny scrap of approval is enough to get Nimona beaming outright. "Nerd," she says, affectionate. "'Course you'd be into flowers way more than a graveyard."

But when it's the closest she's seen Ballister to happy since she opened the locket -- yeah, she's not gonna object. She gives Valdis another scratch, this time behind the ears. "Thanks, Valdis."

[redlightgreenlight]

She huffs softly, still appreciating the attention.

Just be back in town before the stars come out, those creatures also like that meadow.

There's a teasing glint in her eyes as she steps back and winks at Nimona.

Have fun.