Video(ish)-- Ecruteak Inn, Birthday Bash!

[brokencode]

[The moment the video clicked on, Angel let out a sigh. A small hand lifted, pinching the bridge of her nose, before lowering once more, settling onto the back of a new face-- a Glameow. Finally, she offered the device a thin smile.]

I had a plan to offer a sentimental message about growing older, but it seems I was preempted. [She laughed, but it came without humor.] What you heard was correct, today is my birthday.

[A pair of feelers announced the approach of 'Dora, the sylveon, who wrapped his appendages around her in a gesture of comfort.]

It also would appear that I've been here six months now. It's a lot to consider -- celebrating my first birthday on my own, six months after I broke free from my father. To be honest, it's the first time I've recognized it in almost a decade.

It's... a big deal.

[One final sigh, before a smile broke through. It was perhaps a little sad, but still genuine.]

My door will be open today, for anyone who might want to stop by. You can meet my new friend, Princess Smoosherella. [The cat mewled a greeting.] We can all get ice cream together!

[[Right here's the catch-all I've been promising! Feel free to put anything you need in here, in-person or otherwise! Angel's still at the Ecruteak in for a few days longer.]]

Comments

[foolishwren]

_{[Fortunately, or... well, unfortunately, Heather is probably far from the only other person Angel will meet with such bad luck in common. If there's one thing Heather's picked up in her years here... it's that the place seems to, for better or for worse, pick up people who could really benefit from a new life apart from their old world.]}

Likewise-- hah, again.

Angel's one heck of a cool name.

You know, I knew someone who thought this place was Paradise and that the Pokemon were angels. Kind of weird, huh? But after awhile, I can sort of see why.

[brokencode]

[It was unfortunate, but true, and Angel already knew it. Many of her friends had come from, if not similar situations then at least similar worlds. The universe, or perhaps universes, were cruel in that way.]

[But at least there was, as Heather's former companion had implied, one paradise out there.]

It's funny but... I thought I was in heaven when I first woke up here.

[Of course, that was mostly because she had died to get here but... details.]

[foolishwren]

It's kinda hard to blame people for thinking that.

I mean... some folks do come here after they die. I've known a ton like that.

And compared to a lot of places, I mean...

_{[She doesn't think this is Paradise and never has. But it's sure better than the world she came from.]}

[brokencode]

[Angel thought it best not to bring up the fact that she was one of those. Heather had already seemed affected enough by their conversation -- it was best not to make it any worse.]

Those were my thoughts. It is at least close enough to the concept of both heaven and paradise, and certainly far enough away from anything I have ever known.

[foolishwren]

_{[YEAH THAT COULD MAKE IT A LITTLE AWKWARD. Honestly, Heather should probably know better by now than to assume anyone she's talking to isn't dead where they come from.]}

Yeah.

It's... let's just say I was kind of a mess when I got here. Like, holding it together, but still not in great shape, you know?

And it was a wild ride, doing all that adjusting after the fact... but I did, and thinking about where I was when I got here and where I am now...

This place is just good for people.

And I guess that kind of makes it like Heaven in a way.