[Video] Backdated to 11/28, morning

[in4apounding]

Salutations! Is everyone all right after- all that, this weekend?

[Cause it has been a rollercoaster, let her tell you. The giant monsters from home popping up all over and attacking people was probably the least emotionally intense part of the last few days.]

The last few times this happened I just woke up back where I was staying before everything got strange, but this morning I woke up in Mount Mortar, the map on the Gear said? Um- that's ALL it said, so it might take a while to get back out, but it's okay! I've got my Pokemon with me.

[Penny looks over her shoulder for a second, considering something before turning back.]

And Karkat's here, but he's actually- being kind of quiet.

[Her voice drops to the level of someone trying not to be heard by others, but also trying to communicate something to the hard of hearing.]

It's a little weird, but I'm pretty sure it's actually him? And not a Ditto or something, I mean.

Comments

[Video]

[cyan_maid]

Oh goodness! Are you two alright?

[Have a Jane, safe and sound back in the Hamsteak House in Goldenrod, looking very aghast at the idea of waking up in a mountain]

At least neither of you is alone...erm, is there anything any of us can do to help?

[Video - gently threadjacks]

[quadrangle]

[oh fuck no, he already sees where this is going. He rolls his eyes and shamelessly interjects.]

We're fine. Mt. Mortar isn't that bad, just. Boring.

[Yeah, that pause hadn't been intentional. What, oh, what could he have been about to say instead?]

[Video]

[cyan_maid]

[LET HER BE CONCERNED ABOUT YOU DAMNIT SHE'S THE MOM FRIEND]

I don't see how a large, cavernous mountain filled with Pokemon can be boring.

[Video]

[quadrangle]

[UM WOW NO, YOU'RE NOT HIS REAL CRABDAD. Also, HAHAHA, WHAT.

He rolls his eyes extravagantly.]

Oh! How could I have been so mistaken? A fucking cavern, like I wasn't hatched in one like every other troll! Not that you'd—

[agh ergh no, wow, Jane does not need to hear that. He cuts himself off with a snarl and glares heatedly off to one side, wishing not for the first time that—ugh, forget it. Jane doesn't need to know about that either.]

Most of them aren't worth the trouble, but I caught a few. Did you want any?

[And yes, that would be the old standby of "talk about cute Pokémon because everything else is too painful." He's totally okay right now, you have no idea.]

[Video]

[cyan_maid]

[Too late, she's the mom friend, you don't get to decide. She makes dinner for all y'all, it's canon.]

Uh...um...not in particular? Unless you happen to catch one that you'd want to give me, but then I should catch something for you in return, right? What sort of Pokemon do you like?

[Are they. Are they going to trade Pokemon. She should have something to trade right?]

Re: [Video]

[in4apounding]

Jane! We're fine, I think. At least I am. And Karkat's... not hurt, at least?

[Fine aside from a fairly limited food supply, but it's not like this is the first time she'll have had to forage.]

Um- I don't think so, unless there's a more detailed map of this place? The Pokégear just has the regional maps.

[Video]

[cyan_maid]

Oh dear. You'd think someone would consider mapping out a cave by now, if it's traveled through enough.

[Like for fuck's sake Johto you do nothing that makes sense.]

Will you let me know when you guys make it out?

Re: [Video]

[in4apounding]

Of course! Um, whenever that ends up being.

[A couple days, as it'll turn out, because OOC planning, shhh.]

We've got our Pokemon, I'm sure this won't be that bad.

[Video]

[cyan_maid]

[Yeesh you guys you're going to send her into such a tizzy]

Still be careful though, alright? Try not to fall off of...cliffs, or whatever you can find in caves.

[aaaaaaaction? maybe visible on Penny's 'gear if you wanna poke him idk]

[quadrangle]

Hey, I have a PokéGear too, you know. I can still fucking hear you.

[DJ Shouty McNubs in the house, being all... yeah, sullen and almost quiet. What passes for Karkat quiet. Karquiet? Wow, fuck this sentence.

He kicks at the ground a little.]

Can a Ditto even mimic a troll? Human. [g r i m a c e] Whatever.

[Action]

[in4apounding]

Um- maybe? I've never trained one, but I don't see why they wouldn't be able to.

[SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING A DITTO IMPOSTOR MIGHT SAY nah she's pretty sure it's the real you.]

I guess they probably wouldn't be able to really talk, though.

[And no one can really mimic that attitude.]

...Are you all right? I mean you're not hurt or anything.

[Action]

[quadrangle]

Well, maybe they can look like one, but they probably still can't talk.

[Or something, not that he's really invested in the subject. He just needs a distraction, especially if Penny is going to ask fucking stupid questions like that.]

I'm fine. Totally fucking fine. Why wouldn't I be fine? Back to normal in Pokéland, in a random fucking mountain when I could be back—back in my hive with my moirasprits and not—

[ASDFGHKLGHJ. He smears a hand over his face, counts to ten. Hell, to twenty.

This is stupid.]

Let's just go already.

Re: [Action]

[in4apounding]

...We'll get back to Goldenrod soon, promise.

[Is it really just being separated from Dave and Jade? Understandable, she guesses, even if they're still HERE just... not here-here.]

[Then again, Karkat.]

[And let's walk, apparently. In a very definite that-way direction.]

...Did you- um. See anyone from home over the weekend?

[Would that be a bad thing? Given the massive cluster she understands Paradox Space to be.]

Ruby and Yang were here. Just. For a few days, I think.

[She absolutely tried dialing Ruby's Pokégear first thing this morning, just in case.]

But it was good seeing them anyway. And- oh, I think maybe he was one of your friends, he was surrounded by all these- um, there were Ponyta and a few other Pokemon like it I didn't recognize, did you get to see him?

[Action]

[quadrangle]

[Does Karkat need to explain moirallegiance to Penny at some point because that's pretty significant in this context. Or. Well, that and just... being separated from Dave and Jade in general. Yeah. Anyway.]

No, I didn't see anyone. I was hoping Nepeta would show up again, but...

[He trails off, shrugging. Great choice of topic there, Penny; now he's even more subdued. He glances up at her second question, though, frowning. A male troll? Surrounded by...

Oh for fuck's sake.]

Did he have a broken horn?

[Video]

[callbacks]

Penny, you homewrecking strumpet. If you want to borrow Karkat you've got to sign him out at the counter like anyone else.

[Dave may or may not be attempting to peer through Penny's feed to catch whatever glimpse of Karkat he can, but at least he doesn't sound unduly worried. Probably he's got an idea what might be up.]

[Video]

[quadrangle]

[... okay yeah, he's wandering closer and maybe peeking over Penny's shoulder. And—uh—okay, maybe he should pull out his own PokéGear and not be an asshole.]

"Sign me out at the counter?" Dave, what the fuck.

[Video]

[callbacks]

[~Moifriend~]

House policy. I don't make the rules. I mean, I do, but that one's been on the books since at least three seconds ago, can't change it now without an amendment proposal and a two-thirds majority.

[Video]

[quadrangle]

[Still better than "materail" and okay better than "moirasprit" too but whatever shut up. Also, have a highly skeptical look.]

You make the rules and it takes a two-thirds majority to overturn them?

[What would the Mayor say? is heavily implied. Dave, how could you do this to democracy.]

Re: [Video]

[in4apounding]

Dave, I would never! I know there were some close calls this weekend with the Grimm but I was VERY CAREFUL to keep the fighting away from residential areas- oh, that's not what you meant. And I promise I'll sign him out properly in the future if I need to!

[Is she joking or not, it is a mystery.]

I'll keep an eye on him while we're in here, don't worry. You'll have him back aaaaaaas soon as we figure out how to get out of here. ...Give or take a few days to fly, I guess, if the closest Pokemon Center teleporter doesn't link to somewhere we can get to.

[Video]

[callbacks]

[Dave actually hesitates for a moment before releasing a quiet, thoughtful hum.]

I mean, yeah, okay, that's how it's gotta be... But it's Jade's birthday on Thursday and it wouldn't be the same without the both of you, yeah? So I hope it works out.

Re: [Video]

[in4apounding]

Oh gosh, that's right-

[She'd almost forgotten, given reality kind of exploding for a few days.]

In that case, don't worry! I'll definitely get us both back in time for your birthdays!

[Penny doesn't actually salute, but. There's definitely something sort of military in her bearing for just a second.]

I mean, we somehow GOT here without actually traveling, there could still be a quick way back.

[video]

[charcoalfeather]

Penny! [She just said that they shouldn't be concerned, but. Concern!

She's safe back in Goldenrod, though someplace... very high up by the looks of it. hmm.]

Oh, thank goodness you're both okay. Or... however Karkat is doing?

Re: [video]

[in4apounding]

Rakka!

[Psh, what's there to be concerned about? They're just stuck in the middle of a natural maze with limited resources and wild Pokemon at higher levels than they've dealt with before.]

He's... okay-ish, at least?

[Glances over her shoulder at Karkat, who's still totally in hearing range.]

Just a lot quieter than usual.

[video]

[charcoalfeather]

What? O-okay. [She covers her head as a gust of wind comes by.] Okay-ish is... alright.

[She looks confused.]

You mean he's not shouting at anything?

[how... awful?]

Re: [video]

[in4apounding]

A little bit? But not a lot, even though he seems angry about something. ...I mean something specific, not that way he's just usually sort of angry in general.

[Did something happen over the weekend? Maybe.]

How about you? No more monster attacks, right? ...I mean aside from the normal kind, with Pokemon. ...What's normal for here, anyway.