24th Recipe [Video, Goldenrod City]

[cyan_maid]

[The shot opens up on an alley of stalls at Goldenrod's Christmas Market. People and Pokemon are walking by, all in good cheer, shopping and snacking on holiday treats. Soft, colored light seem to frame the entire scene. The view pulls back to show that it's being filmed through a fence that's been liberally wound with multicolored string lights. There's a red picnic table before the filmer (one at which presumably they are sitting), and a couple of reusable totes to one side, packed full with spoils from the market. The view dips down a little and lingers on the empty space in front of the filmer, where someone else could be sitting. Where someone else would likely be sitting.]

...Do you ever just feel sort of...disappointed in things, sometimes?

[It's Jane's voice, but she hasn't turned the camera around to face her. She doesn't want to. Instead, it lifts up and focuses back on the people going back and forth in the market proper.]

Like...not to be a humbug, never, but for example, the holidays. You get everything ready to go and look forward to a million little things and when the day finally turns up on the calendar it's. It's not quite right. Or something's missing. Or someone's not around anymore and nothing feels like it should.

[There's a little sigh, and a lingering pause.]

Sorry, I'm just. In a mood, I guess. A lonely mood. Which is so silly, I'm not alone here...none of us are really alone here. But it's possible to be lonely. [Another pause as the feed pulls back towards the picnic table. There's a small cup of hot cocoa, joined after a moment by an empty cup placed down by two small, pink hands - Dinah's here, she's always here.] If you're at the market, do you want to join us for cocoa? I can cover you. [Jane rattles off the booth number and a couple of landmarks.] If not, I'd really love to just chat with someone today. About anything.

Comments

video;

[bertall]

Sometimes, yeah. There's someone I miss a lot and this year isn't going to be quite the same without her. I'm sure she'd rib me if she could hear this for getting a little mushy, but I'd welcome it at this point.

_{[He's been trying to follow her advice-slash-help since then, though.]}

I could be there in a few minutes if the offer is still open? I could even bring something from FCAB, too. I've been making some stuff for the holidays before we move up to Blackthorn and these sugar cookie bars have been selling pretty well, so I think they're okay.

[Video]

[cyan_maid]

Oh...yeah, of course, the offer is certainly open. I'll be here for a while. You don't need to bring anything if it's any trouble.

[She's Tired from walking around literally the entire market hunting for all the little farmer's market-esque stalls for baking ingredients and also presents.]

Yeah, it's...this time of year doesn't make missing people any easier, does it?

[Video]

[bertall]

It's no trouble at all, I promise.

_{[He looks over his shoulder, then somewhere off camera before he stands up and disappears from the view of the pokegear. He's not far, though! He's just getting a little plate so he can bring them over when he packs up.]}

But it really doesn't. It's... I wish I could say it didn't bother me that much, but it's gotten harder since I started actually meeting people and getting to know them.

[Video]

[cyan_maid]

Yeah, it...doesn't really get any easier.

[You just grow numb to it for your daily life, and then it smacks you suddenly on special occasions.]

...You know what really stinks about it? When it's their birthday and they aren't around.

[forsaintcecilia]

I'm sorry, I'm not anywhere near Goldenrod, but... I do know what you're talking about. It's weird to be celebrating the holidays without my friends and family. Not that I don't have any friend here, but you definitely understand.

[cyan_maid]

It's alright - the offer's sort of just an open invitation, don't worry.

[She sighs softly.]

Yes, I know what you mean. I guess...when I first got here, I was far too spoiled. There were so many people from home around. And now...I'm the only one again.

[forsaintcecilia]

Do you live around there? I'd be more than happy to give you some company on another day.

...That's rough. That's got to be harder than never having them here at all.

[cyan_maid]

Yes, I've got a place in Goldenrod. I'm usually in the city for the entire winter.

[There's a pause before Jane nods, her eyes far away.]

I've. I still have all of the things they left behind. I packed most of it up, but, like...the bedding, the bits and bobs. I can't bear to just throw it away.

[forsaintcecilia]

Then we'll have that hot chocolate before the holidays, okay? I have to fly over to Goldenrod to go shopping anyways!

That's not unusual at all. I've never been able to get rid of anything my friends have given me, here or otherwise! It just means you really treasure them.

[cyan_maid]

Aw, shucks, then I'll look forward to it.

[This helps. Making little moments of time spent with others helps.]

I think it's partially that, and partially...what if they came back? I couldn't bear to get rid of their things. That'd be cruel, like...like I'd abandoned them while they were gone.

Video

[icecastlemadonna]

I know what you mean. This is pretty much the first time that I won't be spending Christmas or New Year's with my family or my friends from home. I have made friends here, but...it isn't quite the same.

[Video]

[cyan_maid]

[Oh. Oh wow, that really hits hard, hearing that. It takes a moment for Jane to respond.]

No, it's...it isn't quite the same, is it? It's not bad, but it isn't the same.

Are you making plans for the holiday, then? Distracting plans?

[Video]

[icecastlemadonna]

...no, it isn't all bad. Having Pokemon around does help, too. [Looking after them helps to distract her from being lonely, at least.]

I'm sure I can figure something out. They seem to be more into Christmas here than where I'm from, so it might be fun to experience that. Though I'll have to plan something for New Year's, too.

[Video]

[cyan_maid]

Oh - oh, that's right! New Year's Eve...I never really give it much thought beyond bothering to stay up until midnight.

[Video]

[icecastlemadonna]

Well, that's alright. I'm from Japan, and New Year's is a bigger holiday there than in other parts of the world.

video

[isleavepossible]

Yeah...I know what that's like.

When my brother...died, everything felt like that. Just wrong, like it was missing the important piece that made it mean anything in the first place.

[Video]

[cyan_maid]

...

[Jane's very quiet at that, giving it the reverence it deserves.]

Yeah, it's. It isn't easy, when people die. Or go missing and are presumed dead. [A beat.] As much as you likely heard it said...I'm sorry, Alex.

[Video]

[isleavepossible]

Thanks.

[And yes she's heard it a lot but it's been a while in comparison to how many times she's heard people/Clarissa yell at her for it being all her fault. So it does mean a lot.]

I got a picture of him and my friends, from that scavenger hunt I did in the summer. I'll show it to you sometime.

But I get holidays can be hard. How are you doing?

[Video]

[cyan_maid]

I'm...I'm okay. I'm going to be okay, I think.

[With time, she'll be alright, as always. But right now, it hurts.]

I got some things for us to make cookies later in the week, if that's something you'd like to do? Some jams and whatnot.

[Video]

[isleavepossible]

That sounds like fun. I'm no expert but so far I haven't managed to burn down anything so I think we'll be good.

[If there's one thing Alex gets is the it takes time for things to stop hurting. ...also distractions.]

Speaking of making things. I was thinking about trying to make one of those giant paper chains. There's a craft store right next to the game store I work at so I can get some cheap construction paper. Want to help? I want to make a super long one.

[Video]

[sociallychallenged]

Oh yeah. Especially the last few years. Holidays were the fucking worst.

I mean, even with a Pokemon. Doesn't do much to fix that whole human companionship thing.

[He doesn't know that a cynical curmudgeon like him will do anyone any good on the holidays. But he can at least say that she's not alone in that hellboat.]

[Video]

[cyan_maid]

[It's still a kind thing, this lonliness companionship. As...hypocritical as that sounds.]

It doesn't, no. Though, I'd say that were they to leave too, their companionship would be sorely missed as well.

[It'd be another layer of lonliness for sure.]

I'm sorry sir, but I do think I've seen you on here before...but I don't think we've met.

[Video]

[sociallychallenged]

[He's constantly worried his partner will be yanked away. This is the first year that Hank's had someone to spend the holidays with in a while. To suddenly find himself alone? That would wreck him.]

Hank Anderson. I've only been here a little while. A few months. Not like these ten to life-ers. [Jesus, imagine being here a fucking decade...]

[Video]

[cyan_maid]

Well, it's nice to meet you Mr. Anderson. My name is Jane. [She nods understandingly.] It's kind of incredible to hear about people who've been in this world that long. I've only been around about two years...almost two and a half. It feels longer sometimes, though.

[Video]

[sociallychallenged]

Yeah. It blows my mind. Even two years seems like a while.

[It's even weirder to realize he's been here since fucking August. To think of being here for years.]

Sounds like people do come and go a lot. That probably doesn't help with the lonely feelings. At least I'm here with my partner.