28th Recipe [Video. just outside Rock Tunnel]

[cyan_maid]

[When everything went weird, Jane had lost track of Alex, and she's been silent on the network while trying to track the other girl down. It's very possible, after all, that she got sent someplace quite far from Rock Tunnel and hadn't been deposited back. It's possible the tunnel has crap reception.

But when Jane finally emerges with the last member of her Bunnyquest list in hand (who is, by the way, the most ill-tempered Whismur that ever did exist), when she tries one more time to call Alex and the 'gear number isn't connected to anyone anymore...well, she has to accept the inevitable.]

Alex has gone home.

[Back to that - that island, and the ghosts, and the time loops...Jane lets out a defeated sigh, slumping against the outside rocks, her brow furrowed.]

...It's when these things happen that I think...why do I still keep the house around? Why don't I just shove off and travel, if there's no one to come home to? I guess...[She shakes her head.] I don't know. Maybe I keep it in case people return? In case they need a home when they get here, and not adventure all the time?

[Jane is quiet after that, looking out into the middle distance. It's warm out, cloudy but not overly so. There's a nice breeze that ruffles Jane's hair and makes the trees across the water rustle.]

Either way...I, uh, I'll show you all my new rabbity friends once I get back to Goldenrod. It might take me some time to get back there, I...I'd like to rest.

[Before she shuts the feed, Jane mutters to herself,] God dammit, I fucking hate Rock Tunnel...

Comments

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[sassymaru]

... Alex?

Which Alex, if I may ask?

[Video]

[cyan_maid]

About this tall, [She gestures,] with blueish hair, tanned skin...tended to attract a lot of ghosts.

[Video]

[sassymaru]

Ah...

And you're certain?

[Video]

[cyan_maid]

Yes...I thought perhaps my service was bad in Rock Tunnel, but her contact's just a number on the 'gear now, there's no name associated with it...

[She sighs, shakes her head.]

If it was just a matter of getting separated, I would think she'd have called by now, too...

[Video]

[sassymaru]

... I see.

[He's quiet, for a few moments, before his expression smooths over. Purposefully. Gathering himself.]

You have my sympathies. Extraordinarily so.

Though I have been told... those who leave have the potential to return.

[Video]

[cyan_maid]

I know. I've seen it happen before.

[She sighs - her tone is accepting, but weary. Just because people can come back as suddenly as they leave doesn't mean she has to like it.]

It's just...folks who don't have much good to go back to ought to be allowed to stay. What's the point in going home when home's a shambles and everything's already made up its mind?

[Video]

[sassymaru]

You've said the words I'm certain so many of us are thinking.

[The words he's thinking. But feels as if he shouldn't say. What is an AI's feelings to a human's?]

Has anyone gotten any closer to understanding why it is... some vanish?

[islandshore]

[Oh man. Jane hit the nail on the head right there. Riku shuts his eyes, sighing. It's a feeling all to familiar.]

I... Yeah. That's kinda where I've been at. Got this huge place up in Celadon, and for a while it was a full house. But over the years, well...

There might be plenty of Pokemon, but it's just not the same, y'know?

[He pauses, nudging his chin with his thumb.]

But there's one perk to having a home. Means you got somewhere to crash if travel expenses get to be too much. It's something stable, instead of relying on Inns and Hotels.

[cyan_maid]

This is true. But that means you end up centering your whole life in one place, and...this world may have its limits for us, but it's big enough to see quite a lot.

[It was bigger than her home on Earth, more lively than Sburb...]

...I guess my story is a pretty common one, isn't it? You build a place to live with people and memories, and eventually it all sort of empties out...

[islandshore]

Just because it's common doesn't mean it doesn't count.

[He shakes his head. Definitely didn't wanna give that impression.]

Nah, I think if anything, you'll find a lot of people who get it. Especially those of us who've been here from the start. It's... Man, I'm not even sure what to say. I'd like to offer reassurances, but I don't have Sora or Ven's optimism.

They'd probably spout something like, "Even if your friends leave, your hearts will always be connected."

[cyan_maid]

It's alright. I'm...I guess I'm venting a little? But even if I wasn't dog-tired, I wouldn't be terribly angry.

[It's just a sad time. Still, that little quip of Riku's does manage to get Jane to smile.]

...That's nice. I like that. It's like...no matter if you don't remember each other, you'll always remember in your heart. Right?

[islandshore]

Heh, fair. It's good to get that stuff out. Don't be like me and distance yourself from everybody.

[A sad smile crosses his face, but he nods.]

Something like that, though. Sora and Ven were the kinda guys who'd always look on the bright side. Total saps, but it's definitely not a bad outlook to have. And it's not like those good times never happened, either.

[cyan_maid]

...Well, Celadon is a bit of a ways away from where folks tend to congregate. But I don't blame you for staying there - the city's lovely.

[If he's more thinking along the lines of what happened to him back home, well, Jane's given him an out.]

That's true. All those lovely days still happened...as long as I can remember them, I will. [She nods, determined.]

[sociallychallenged]

[Ah, jeez. He remembers talking to her. She seemed like a good girl. And people leaving and coming back has new meaning to him now.]

When this place made me fuck off, I don't think I woulda blamed Connor for just getting rid of our place. He wants to be a trainer and I wouldn't have wanted him to be anchored to feeling lonely.

It would have been disappointing to come back to no place, but I'd rather come back to knowing someone I gave a shit about wasn't trapped alone. For what it's worth. [That's the worst feeling in the world.]

[cyan_maid]

Well...I don't really feel "trapped". Alone, yes, but...not once have I ever felt like this place was a prison.

[Home had almost been a prison. Sburb was a prison. Johto and Kanto were limited, but they were still more freedom than she had ever gotten to have.]

It just feels...melancholy, to be the one keeping the lights on.

[sociallychallenged]

Then you're handling it a hell of a lot better than I would.

[He'd feel trapped, but he's more emotionally fragile than he likes admitting.]

I don't think anyone would judge you either way. Think you'd be sadder if you let it go and got a smaller place?

[cyan_maid]

...

[She thinks about it...then nods.]

Yes. The house I have now holds many good memories. I...I wouldn't want to discard it like they didn't matter.

[sociallychallenged]

Sounds like it's worth keeping around in general, then. If another place just wouldn't cut it.

[He had moved into a smaller house after his losses and, honestly, it hadn't felt any better than if he'd stayed.]

Maybe you can ask someone to watch over it for you while you went on safari or whatever. Give you some time away from it.

[cyan_maid]

I suppose I could...I mean, right now I have some of my Pokemon taking care of things. The responsible ones.

[And some irresponsible foxes.]

That hasn't gone badly for me yet, surprisingly.

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[starry_forehead]

Oh...I'm sorry to hear that. I didn't know them but it really sucks when people get taken away.

[Considering Dipper has made his own, lost person post recently. Yeah. He can relate.]

I don't know about a house but maybe it's something to remember them with? I was actually thinking of getting a house sometime in the future, so I'd have someplace to store my stuff but also so I could I don't know. Put up a picture for Mabel. Or something like that....I'm still thinking it over.

[cyan_maid]

[lost person solidarity]

All by yourself? At least go in with one other person...

[Get help to pay rent, Dipper]

[starry_forehead]

I don't really know many people. Or at least not well enough to move in with them. All the people I know well, already have places.

[He shrugs slightly.]

I could probably find a small place. I mean, I'm trying not to totally isolate myself because that's...um a bad habit that runs in my family when things go wrong. But as long as I don't just go find a place in the middle of the woods I should be fine.

I've been thinking about trying the gyms. That might help get some money.

[cyan_maid]

That'll definitely help, but if I might suggest something? If you can pick up some part time work, the money from that can really add up. I do work in the Pokemon Center in Goldenrod semi-regularly and haven't had a lot of trouble budgeting and it works out really well.

[Also...no isolation, good, love yourself Dipper.]

[starry_forehead]

Oh, that's a good idea.

What's working in a pokemon center like?

[He's learning!]

[cyan_maid]

It can be a little busy, depending on what you do there! You can manage the front desk, which means you'll be handling people as they come in, or you can work with Pokemon to help with first aid and healing. Now that can be a little more complicated, but the Nurse Joys handle the most serious issues, so it's not as if you'll be responsible for much more than shallow cuts and bruises. Either way, they pay very well, for health centers that are basically free of charge.