Johan Liebert (
uglyinside) wrote in
asgardeventide2012-02-10 03:44 pm
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02 [ Video ]
[ The feed opens on the main network, its colours seemingly in higher contrast than usual as the setting comes to view.
At the corner of the screen, is Johan. He is sitting down on a bench in the Loki District, with a pile of books beside him. However, his presence is devoid of any command -- there is nothing about it, right now, that would make anybody truly want to focus on his image. Instead, the main focus of the video seemsto be the eleven faceless children sitting in front of him. They are resting their chins against their palms, and every now and then, tiling their heads thoughtfully. One can even hear the sounds of whispers or laughter come out of them, though they seem to not possess clear mouths. ]
This one might be more familiar to you all. It's called, "The Girl with the Green Ribbon."
[ His voice lifts gently in inquiry around them. ] Are you all ready? Are you ready for the story?
[ The children nod! Johan opens the book, while one of the children -- perhaps it is a girl, it is hard to tell, scoots in closer beside him. ]
A long, long ... [ He pauses, smiling over at the girl. ] Long time ago, there was a little girl, who wore a green ribbon around her neck.
[ The child puts a hand to their neck in response. ]
One day, she went to school, and met a boy. The boy sat behind her in class, and the ribbon had caught his attention.
"Why?" The boy asked, curiously. "Why do you always seem to wear that... ribbon, that green ribbon... around your neck?"
She promised that someday she'd tell him.
When they grew a bit older, as teenagers, the boy asked the girl on a date. She was very happy to accept this date, but that night, on their date, he asked again: "Why? Why do you wear that green ribbon around your neck?"
"It's not important," She insisted. But he persisted. He asked once again, and so she told him that if they married one day, she would tell him.
And so the boy and the girl fell in love. [ Some of the kids make a few "eww" sounds, though the child beside Johan scoots in even closer, trying to get a glimpse of the picture book. ]
On the night of their wedding, the boy who had grown into a man asked once again. She replied that she would tell him if they were to have kids. So they had children, and again he asked: "Why? Why do you wear that green ribbon around your neck?"
She said: "Please, if you love me...you will stop asking me, for now. It is not important. I will tell you one day."
The man unhappily accepted this. The two grew old together, and one day, the wife was told by a Doctor that she had grown sick, and was about to die. While laying in bed, near death, her old husband asked once again: "Please, please. Please tell me, wife. Please tell me why you wear that ribbon around your neck?"
In a weak voice, she whispered: "I will tell you. Take the bow off."
When he pulled the bow loose, her head fell off.
[ A couple of the children laugh, while some remain expressionless, seemingly emotionless in response, but taking it in nonetheless. Johan glances directly at the video feed, then back at the children. ]
Now. I want you to tell me. What did that story mean?
At the corner of the screen, is Johan. He is sitting down on a bench in the Loki District, with a pile of books beside him. However, his presence is devoid of any command -- there is nothing about it, right now, that would make anybody truly want to focus on his image. Instead, the main focus of the video seemsto be the eleven faceless children sitting in front of him. They are resting their chins against their palms, and every now and then, tiling their heads thoughtfully. One can even hear the sounds of whispers or laughter come out of them, though they seem to not possess clear mouths. ]
This one might be more familiar to you all. It's called, "The Girl with the Green Ribbon."
[ His voice lifts gently in inquiry around them. ] Are you all ready? Are you ready for the story?
[ The children nod! Johan opens the book, while one of the children -- perhaps it is a girl, it is hard to tell, scoots in closer beside him. ]
A long, long ... [ He pauses, smiling over at the girl. ] Long time ago, there was a little girl, who wore a green ribbon around her neck.
[ The child puts a hand to their neck in response. ]
One day, she went to school, and met a boy. The boy sat behind her in class, and the ribbon had caught his attention.
"Why?" The boy asked, curiously. "Why do you always seem to wear that... ribbon, that green ribbon... around your neck?"
She promised that someday she'd tell him.
When they grew a bit older, as teenagers, the boy asked the girl on a date. She was very happy to accept this date, but that night, on their date, he asked again: "Why? Why do you wear that green ribbon around your neck?"
"It's not important," She insisted. But he persisted. He asked once again, and so she told him that if they married one day, she would tell him.
And so the boy and the girl fell in love. [ Some of the kids make a few "eww" sounds, though the child beside Johan scoots in even closer, trying to get a glimpse of the picture book. ]
On the night of their wedding, the boy who had grown into a man asked once again. She replied that she would tell him if they were to have kids. So they had children, and again he asked: "Why? Why do you wear that green ribbon around your neck?"
She said: "Please, if you love me...you will stop asking me, for now. It is not important. I will tell you one day."
The man unhappily accepted this. The two grew old together, and one day, the wife was told by a Doctor that she had grown sick, and was about to die. While laying in bed, near death, her old husband asked once again: "Please, please. Please tell me, wife. Please tell me why you wear that ribbon around your neck?"
In a weak voice, she whispered: "I will tell you. Take the bow off."
When he pulled the bow loose, her head fell off.
[ A couple of the children laugh, while some remain expressionless, seemingly emotionless in response, but taking it in nonetheless. Johan glances directly at the video feed, then back at the children. ]
Now. I want you to tell me. What did that story mean?
[ video ]
No.
[ Calm, and probably the most firm thing she's said so far. Not any louder, on the other hand. ]
It's not.
[ video ]
That's fine.
Thank you for listening to the story. Miss...?
[ video ]
It's nothing, and she knows it, guesses it has more to do with the kind of steady evenhandedness he'd been using with the children.
But it's part of her hesitation, her consideration before she straightens her shoulders just a little. ]
Freya.
[ She holds his gaze for that moment. ]
My name is Freya.
[ And for a beat longer... and then she looks away. To the side, withdrawing, falling still. Remembering something as she looks back to him. Her hair has partly covered her face when she looked away, but she doesn't push it back or away. The movement of her head is enough to send it sliding back, leaving her field of vision fairly clear.
Freya waits, watching him in return. Her eyebrows move up just the slightest, curious if he'll offer his own name without verbal prompting. She'd like to know... yet she wonders. About this place. Maybe about his story, or the untold stories. About her own?
She waits. She'll offer him that unspoken invitation, before making it an explicit one. ]
[ video ]
Freya.
[ Her movements show such discomfort. Was that fear? No, no.
No, it wasn't quite fear at all. ]
My name is Johan. Did you just arrive?
[ video ]
[ After saying his name, she considers it. It's an interesting one, different on her tongue. ]
That's a nice name.
[ And it is, even if she doesn't have that familiarity that tells her meaning. Names all have meanings, and it's those meanings which can say so much more about a person. The intents, and hopes, of their parents, sometimes, other times something more.
Still, he's asked her a question, and this is one more than safe enough to respond to. ]
The day before today. Sent into Freya's Welcome Hall.
[ And there is more of a smile, one borne of honest amusement. This god who is not hers, yet with whom she shares a name. Freya, under Freya's supposed protection. No... that wasn't the right word. Freya, under Freya's supposed tolerance and demands. ]