[ There's something about hearing Hua Cheng say her sister's name, that makes the corners of her mouth twitch and curve upward in a tiny smile. This kind of sharing is new. Nobody outside her crew and her island knew her like that. But, Hua Cheng has always been anomalous in the quick, easy way she learned to trust him. ]
Still lives in the shack we grew up in and everything. [ Although, given the almost hundred million berry she left behind when setting sail with Luffy and his crew, Nami hopes Nokjiko has at least spent a little on sprucing up the old place.
When he asks about books, she nods eagerly, before his words make her blink in surprise. So close on the heels of the last time those thoughts began to circle, Nami manages to push aside the innate human urge to acknowledge her mourning. ]
Was reading not common where you were from? We grew up really poor but still learned that, and basic math from the village, but I've heard there are places even in my world, where that's not always the case with people who don't have a lot.
[ nami's sister and nami's home, rendered in nami's hand—hua cheng can't think of anything more wonderful than that. nor more intimate, really, but he hopes that by this point they're close enough friends that she understands her vulnerability is safe with him.
again, that flicker of sadness in nami's gaze. he reaches across the table to take her hand, lacing their fingers together as he answers. ]
Books and literature were only for the upper classes, [ he explains. ] There was only a need for education for those who might go on to work in the palace or for the government. I was an urchin who became a soldier—I had no need for reading.
[ squeezing nami's hand lightly, hua cheng adds, ] It makes you sad to think that I died, doesn't it, xiaojie?
[ Hua Cheng sees more of Nami than most people do. The carnality of their friendship aside, he's safe and comfortable in other ways as well, making it easy for her to nod in agreement when he mentions her drawing her sister for him. It would take a lot, but for him, she's already thinking over which of the sketchbooks she's filled during her time at the casino has the best drawings of home already in them.
For someone to mean so much, it makes sense that she can't escape that quiet pang of loss that lingers in her chest each time the topic of his death is broached, but she doesn't expect to be called out for it in the gentlest way imaginable. Caught off guard, Nami laughs quietly and looks down at her plate, her teeth worrying her bottom lip as she mulls over how to answer. ]
Probably no reason to, is there? [ He's here, isn't he? No longer an urchin or a soldier, and likely better off for it. ] I like Hua Cheng, I guess it makes me sad I missed the chance to care about Hong'er too.
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Still lives in the shack we grew up in and everything. [ Although, given the almost hundred million berry she left behind when setting sail with Luffy and his crew, Nami hopes Nokjiko has at least spent a little on sprucing up the old place.
When he asks about books, she nods eagerly, before his words make her blink in surprise. So close on the heels of the last time those thoughts began to circle, Nami manages to push aside the innate human urge to acknowledge her mourning. ]
Was reading not common where you were from? We grew up really poor but still learned that, and basic math from the village, but I've heard there are places even in my world, where that's not always the case with people who don't have a lot.
no subject
[ nami's sister and nami's home, rendered in nami's hand—hua cheng can't think of anything more wonderful than that. nor more intimate, really, but he hopes that by this point they're close enough friends that she understands her vulnerability is safe with him.
again, that flicker of sadness in nami's gaze. he reaches across the table to take her hand, lacing their fingers together as he answers. ]
Books and literature were only for the upper classes, [ he explains. ] There was only a need for education for those who might go on to work in the palace or for the government. I was an urchin who became a soldier—I had no need for reading.
[ squeezing nami's hand lightly, hua cheng adds, ] It makes you sad to think that I died, doesn't it, xiaojie?
no subject
For someone to mean so much, it makes sense that she can't escape that quiet pang of loss that lingers in her chest each time the topic of his death is broached, but she doesn't expect to be called out for it in the gentlest way imaginable. Caught off guard, Nami laughs quietly and looks down at her plate, her teeth worrying her bottom lip as she mulls over how to answer. ]
Probably no reason to, is there? [ He's here, isn't he? No longer an urchin or a soldier, and likely better off for it. ] I like Hua Cheng, I guess it makes me sad I missed the chance to care about Hong'er too.