After the events that transpired leading to Count Bleck's presumable demise, his minions were adjusting to their new lives. It was hard on all of them, but mostly Nastasia

Everyone had just finished breakfast, the three of them were cleaning up. Nastasia stared at the foamy water on her hands and plate, she absent-mindedly scrubbed the bowls and cups. She glanced out the window, at the sun just hovering over the horizon. If Blumiere was still out there, he and Timpani were probably enjoying the beautiful sight, while she remained here…

Struggling to see any worth in herself, not only was her count no longer here to seek her assistance, but neither was Dimentio, no troublemaking that needed to be resolved. She really couldn't see why Mimi and O'Chunks needed her there…

"Are ye okay lass?" Nastasia snapped out of her thoughts, she faced O'Chunks to see he'd finished drying the dishes she had handed him, she turned around to see Mimi had finished cleaning up the table and had left to attend to her own affairs.

"Oh..uh..yeah, yeah I'm fine." She rinses off the last bowl she'd been washing for.. probably the last 8 minutes "K, here you go." O'Chunks took the bowl and dried it off, Nastasia didn't leave her spot though. She continued to gaze out the window and the rising sun.

O'Chunks placed the bowl in the cupboard and turned his attention back to the young woman, the sun created a glare over the lens of her glasses, making it nearly impossible to see her eyes, but not impossible to see her clear despair.

She'd always been rather serious, but he never saw a glint of real sadness in her eyes, concern maybe, but never this. That was until the day Count Bleck and his true love, Timpani, vanished from this world. O'Chunks remembered how Nastasia broke down into tears, she never got to say goodbye.

After a few more seconds of silence, O'Chunks spoke "I know ya miss 'im, we all do." Nastasia shifted her gaze to him. She paused, not sure what to say, "Yeah…" she sighed. "If there's anythin' wrong lass, you can tell me." He placed his large hand on her shoulder, she turned to face him, her eyes were glistening with tears emerging. "What's the matter?"

Her lips parted to speak, her speech quivering with crying on the verge, "I-I just feel worthless without him..." she didn't sob, but a tear trickled down her cheek as she tried to take a deep breath to prevent herself breaking down. "I know I could never replace her… but I felt secure in the fact that we'd all die together after living my life for him, and now he's gone and I'm still here and I just-"

She placed her slender hands over her mouth to hold back her whimpers, she didn't want to cry, but she couldn't stop herself. She felt so pathetic, her voice cracked "I don't know what to do with myself…" She removed her glasses and wiped away the tears with her sleeves.

O'Chunks frowned and hugged her gently, wanting to give her time to regain her composure before she'd continue. Her breaths were shaky, she wrapped one arm around his waist and stared into space until her tears ceased.

She didn't part from the hug but carried on, "You and Mimi would be fine on your own… you two don't really need me here." O'Chunks quietly cut her off, "We need to be 'ere for each other Nassy." His grip around her tightens slightly. "We're all tryin' to work through this. It's hard but we can't do it without ye."

Nastasia listened and nodded, the words didn't mean much to her now, but she hoped she could accept them later.

"Besides, if ye weren't here, who'd save me from Mimi's wrath." He teased, Nastasia giggled.

"I heard that you know!" Came Mimi's shrill voice from outside, she sauntered into the room, she was all dressed aside from her hair. "Come on! We're going out to a festival today remember! We got, like, 10 minutes before we gotta go and neither of you are even dressed!" She complained.

"We actually have 40 minutes so calm down K? Besides we'll probably be an hour late knowing you and how long you take to do your hair." Nastasia replied.

Mimi's cheeks fumed, she let out a loud "Hmphf!" before sticking her nose up and strutting off to do her hair.

"My point proven" O'Chunks chuckled.

Nastasia smiled and placed her glasses back on her face, looking up at him, "Thanks O'Chunks"

"Anytime lass" He grinned.

They both headed to their rooms to change and get set for the day.