20th Recipe [Video, Goldenrod City]

[cyan_maid]

[She should have made this a couple of days ago. Jane knows this, and yet...it was too fresh. It's still too fresh, but back at the house - her house, just hers now, empty save for all the Pokemon who live there - there were distractions, things she could clean and put away and take care of, creatures who needed to know what happened, deserved to know first and foremost.

It's clear she's not okay when the feed clicks on. Her face is pale, there are bags under her reddened eyes, and her hair is more wild and unkempt than her curls usually allow. She breathes in, breathes out, looks away from the 'gear with a wan expression.]

...I know...I know these sorts of...announcements are pretty typical, and sad. And. Really annoying on some level, I guess? But...but I wanted to let people know that, um...R-Rakka and Penny. Rakka and Penny went home a couple of days ago. So, if you were wondering why...why you couldn't reach them, that's why.

[There's a pause. Various Pokemon move around in the background - some recognizable as Jane's, others as those who have left. All look worriedly at the only human they have remaining, who sniffs, opens her mouth to say something more, then closes it and swallows thickly as she turns her 'gear off.]

Comments

Video;

[schachmeister]

I'm very sorry. It's always painful when someone returns to their own world.

[Doesn't he know it. Occasionally he remembers that Bertolt is gone now and it makes him sad all over again.]

I didn't talk to Rakka often, but two of her pokemon ended up with me. I'll gladly take care of them, but if it would make things easier for you, I wouldn't mind transferring them to you either.

[He wants as many Lapras as he can get for the pod, but he doesn't want that at the expense of someone being hurt. Hilde still being there had been a comfort after Eren had gone.]

[Video]

[cyan_maid]

...It's terrible. I was - I had been thinking about people leaving all month, and they were still with me and I didn't even...[Jane shakes her head.] I'm so incredibly foolish...

[She sighs, and is quiet for a moment, thinking over Armin's words.]

No, it's...if they went to you, then there must be a reason. So long as you promise to treat them well, and return them if she comes back, then I don't have any qualms with it.

[Video]

[schachmeister]

One of my friends recently returned home too. It's-- We'd all been here for so long, I think a part of me had started to think it wouldn't happen to us. If you are foolish, then I must be as well.

[It feels like some sort of betrayal. Not from Bertolt, of course. He couldn't help it. More like this world betraying them, which Armin is well aware is a ridiculous way to think.]

I will. I ended up with her two Lapras. I was thinking of introducing them to my pod once they've had a few days to settle down, but of course, if Rakka comes back, I'd be more than happy to return them to her. That's what I would want to if it was me.

[Video]

[cyan_maid]

[She sighs, very softly, and then there's a spark of recognition in her eyes.]

Oh! That's right, you've...talked about them on the network, right? I feel like I've seen that. The Lapras thing.

[Video]

[schachmeister]

I did. It was Mr Newt's project first, actually. [He isn't sure if Jane knew him, but it is important to him that Newt's role in this does not go unmentioned.] But when he went home, it became mine.

I know they are quite rare, but I was hoping to find any other people who have got a Lapras, so we might be able to breed them together in the future.

[Video]

[maybeitsmabelline]

[For once Mabel is bright and bubbly. She's got a rather sad look on her face as she sits beside a rather downtrodden looking Exploud while a very irritable looking Gastly hovers just behind her.]

I'm really sorry to hear about your friends...I..it's...are you going to be okay?

[Note to self: Send Jane a care package!

She fidgets slightly and looks at the Exploud then glances at the Gastly before focusing on her 'gear again, chewing on the inside of her lip.]

A couple of Rakka's Pokemon were in my PC and I can look after them if you want me to or I can send them to you! I don't mind going to the Pokemon Center to do it!

[Video]

[cyan_maid]

...I mean...eventually, I think I'll be fine?

[She looks at the feed proper and - oh. Oh, that was Merope...there's a quiet pang of pain in her heart. Merope was Karkat's starter...and here she is.]

N...No, if they've gone to you then there must be a reason for it. Just...make sure you take care of them, and give them back to Rakka if she returns. Alright? And you be careful with Merope, she's had her heart broken a couple of times already and can be...well, Merope-y.

[Video]

[maybeitsmabelline]

Eventually is better than never at all..but it's okay to take all the time you need!

[Beside Mabel, Merope let's out a low rumble at the sight of Jane and lifts a paw in a weak wave. Mabel reaches out to pat the poor Pokemon's arm as the Gastly behind her shudders and disappears from view now.]

I promise I'll take really good care of them and as soon as Rakka comes back I'll send them back to her! [Mabel gives Jane a thumbs up and a smile that is most definitely a promise.] And I'll make sure Merope has a really good time while she's with us! It's only temporary so it's just like a long sleep over, that's all!

[Mabel knows that it could be permanent but for Merope's sake, she's going to stay positive.]

[Video]

[cyan_maid]

[Mabel is a good bean. Jane seems more relieved at that thumbs up, and waves back to Merope.]

Alright - I'll hold you to it, you know, but I do have faith it'll be fine. Usually these things turn out fine.

[She sighs, sniffs, rubs at one of her eyes again.]

[Video]

[maybeitsmabelline]

Yeah! It'll all be fine!

[She came back so she's sure that Jane's friends will come back!]

If you get lonely or need someone to talk to, you can call Dipper and I anytime, okay? We'll come visit or talk and tell you stories if you want us to! [Mabel beams now.] That way you won't feel so alone, okay?

Video

[isleavepossible]

Oh no, I'm sorry.

I didn't know them but....

[But...she knows Jane somewhat. Well enough to talk about a lot of stuff. Enough that Alex considers her a friend at least. And she knows how hard losing people is. She really knows.]

....that really sucks. ...and if anyone thinks it's annoying to make a post like this then they're just jerks.

[Video]

[cyan_maid]

...Well, once you hear it several dozen times, I assume it's...something one grows numb to.

[Jane's not sure how - it always felt sad to see such posts - but she's sure it happens. Not everyone feels the same about everything.]

[Video]

[isleavepossible]

I suppose. But it's still a person ...gone.

[She can't imagine being here long enough for it to not be sad when you heard someone saying, usually a friend of theirs was gone. She doesn't want to reach that point. She refuses to reach that point.]

Hey, I'm not the best at this but I ...have, lost someone before and I get maybe you just want to be left alone right now so you can totally ignore my suggestion but I found that getting dragged out by my friend helped a bit, for me at least.

So, if you don't mind that we've only talked a few times, I could come by and drag you out somewhere. As like a distraction, or something?

[Video]

[cyan_maid]

[Jane doesn't think she can reach that point. She's...still sad, in private, about other people leaving, or coming back with no memories of this place and never finding the courage to say anything about it. But what good would dredging up the past do? She's here, and she has to live, or else why stay here at all?]

...No, I...I certainly wouldn't mind. Gosh, no. I...I've been alone, before, when. When people were missing, back home. It...didn't help.

[Being alone in her house only made things worse.]

[Video]

[isleavepossible]

Yeah, it really doesn't.

[Ren pulling her out of her house after her brother died, especially with her parents arguing all the time? Helped a LOT. Even when they just went over to his house because being in public was too much for her.]

Awesome. Where are you now?

[video/filtered]

[styxiedust]

[Yes, she knew. She had known for a while. Tried to check up on Rakka with the daily Mom message and found...disconnect. Nothing.

But how Botan feels about it doesn't matter, she's experienced loss--people she calls her best friends, her family, one even someone she was in love with. It all beats against her and still hurts her tender heart. There's no answer or peace for it, there wouldn't be, that was how loss was. And if Botan was anything, she was a caregiver over a moper, and in loss there is always care needed.]

Sweetie...where are you? Are you amenable to visitors? [A pause, she presses a hand to her chest, tries to smile though it seems pained.] I'm...well, I was, anyway, I was Rakka's...mother. From what she said, you two were good friends.

[video/filtered]

[cyan_maid]

...Oh! Oh, yes, I...I had heard about that.

[She is not unaware of the Momening, at least in passing.]

I-I'm back home. In Goldenrod. And...I-I'd never turn away a visitor.

[styxiedust]

What do you know, right in my own neighborhood.

[It's a joke, or an attempt at one by the weak smiling.]

What do you like to eat, dear? I'll bring something over.

[cyan_maid]

Oh...y-you don't need to go through so much trouble, it's fine! I, I have things in the house...

[styxiedust]

It's no trouble at all. Rakka always told me that you would take care of everyone, why not let someone else take care of you for a time?

[Though she would anyway, moms are gonna mom.]

Video

[starry_forehead]

....Penny's gone?

[Oh he ....didn't think that was possible. She seemed like she'd been here so long.]

....thanks for telling us. I don't...didn't talk to her that much I guess... so I didn't even think to check. But she was... really nice.

[Video]

[cyan_maid]

...Yeah. She's gone home.

[To what, though, Jane can't say.]

She is nice. She's lovely. Maybe she'll turn up again soon. Who...who knows, right?

[Video]

[starry_forehead]

Yeah.... she is nice.

....she told me about how I'd been here a few times. It helped a lot when Mabel went home.

[Mostly because the last Dipper here had lost their Mabel and had then gone and gotten lost in the woods, exploring by themselves. Which is 100% something he might have gone and done if he hadn't been told he'd already done that in the past.]

And....Mabel came back so.....maybe she will too.

[Video]

[cyan_maid]

Yeah, I...remember, one of those times. [Even if he doesn't, it's always good to see people again.]

I-I certainly have to hope she will, that...both of them return. What am I supposed to do with a whole house to myself, anyway?

[Video]

[starry_forehead]

Yeah, apparently the other me knew a lot of people.

[He still finds that odd. Maybe the other him was better at making friends then he is. Maybe he's overthinking things.It's probably the last one.]

[He seems to give the question some thought though.]

Well, um....do you have any hobbies?