[video]

[beastofasister]

[Manaka, obviously, is baking something. She's dressed in an apron, a mixing bowl situated in between her body and the camera. That isn't what she wants to talk about, though, and when she sees that her 'Gear has started to record, the stirring of her wooden spoon stops.

A certain someone takes this opportunity to leap up onto the counter beside her trainer, looking directly into the camera for a few moments before peeking into the mixing bowl instead. Manaka doesn't seem to notice.]

Um... I have a question for everyone. [As Manaka speaks, her manner is uncharacteristically uncertain—bashful, even. Her eyes flit away from the camera, focusing on some meaningless point on the countertop instead.] Valentine's Day is coming up... It's a special holiday, that you're supposed to spend with the person who is most special to you. I thought, I bet a lot of us have a person like that... So, I wanted to know.

[Finally, she looks up again.]

What do you do, if the person you want to be with isn't here?

Comments

Video

[thedifferencebetween]

Easy.

Find somebody else to spend it with!

[Oh, that's kind of cute. Manaka's got a little crush back home or something.]

If the most special person isn't around, just...find anybody who's any kind of special to ya. Or...whatever.

Not saying anybody's special to me around here, like that, but...you know what I mean.

[beastofasister]

Ah, isn't that what we're already doing...?

[Not that she has anything resembling romantic feelings for Jack or Draculaura. She just doesn't have them for anyone else, either, her feelings for Saber so bright that they wash away anything else that tries to creep in.]

[thedifferencebetween]

Pretty much! So you're all set!

I mean...you're gonna be okay if I go do other stuff after lunch and the party, right?

[beastofasister]

Of course. I'm used to keeping myself occupied.

[Though "biding her time" is probably the more honest way of putting it.]

Does that mean you have plans?

Video

[usedstockpile]

[Gil sees the video but has no real interest in replying to Manaka's woes, but when her Sylveon pops into the frame, Bel pounces on the 'Gear and he winds up replying. The Eevee is practically 3/4ths of the frame before Gil pulls him back. 'Vee!'] Eeey ey ey, what're you doing, goofball?

Aaah, Chiffon evolved, huh?

Anyway, if that's the case, ignore the holiday, or make up your own celebration. I dont' get the holiday, myself.

[beastofasister]

Eh?

[She blinks, and then turns her head. Apparently, she really hadn't noticed her there.]

Chiffon! [Her cheeks puff.] You know you're not supposed to climb on the countertops!

[Unfortunately... Chiffon is more concerned with Bel's attention at the moment. Syl, she chirps, sticking her face close to the camera.]

video

[usedstockpile]

Aah, someone's feeling bold, I take it?

[Bel wiggles his ears and tail and he practically vibrates. What is that??? It looks like an Eevee but is bigger and pinker!! And it has ribbon thingies! He wants ribbon thingies! Maybe! Vee! Ee??]

[beastofasister]

I was trying to make my own poképuffs... She must have been interested in the batter.

[She just coincidentally chose not to jump up until the video was recording. Right.

As Manaka answers, she hooks a hand around the front of Chiffon's body. She doesn't have the heart to push her off the counter altogether, though, so instead, she just pulls her back until her face isn't occupying most of the camera's view. Chiffon doesn't seem particularly fussed, wiggling one of her feelers in Bel's direction.]

text.

[torsion]

There are a few options. You could always enjoy the things they like in their honor. Treat yourself to things they'd enjoy, maybe write them a letter even if they'll never see it?

Or, just think about them. Try to have a good time. If they're worth caring about, they'd want you to be happy.

[beastofasister]

Oh, these are all really cute ideas!
I felt sad because I've always wanted to make chocolate for him, but I didn't have the chance to do it while we were together... (๑´╹‸╹`๑)
So maybe I'll do that now, even though he isn't here for me to give it to him! (ღꈍ◡ꈍღ)

[torsion]

Well, I've never done it for my partner... any of them, actually. Guess it would be nice to treat them.

Of course, you might get better suggestions. But it's an entire day, so if you're not busy otherwise you might be able to fill it up with different things?

[beastofasister]

I already have other things to do that day.
It's my friend's birthday, so Jack and I are going to throw a big party for her! °˖✧◝(≧▽≦)◜✧˖°
But still... I guess I couldn't help thinking about it.
Sometimes, I miss him so much it hurts to breathe.
But it's okay!
If I do something like that, even if he isn't here, I'm sure my feelings will reach him. (๑︶◡︶๑)

[Video]

[rosehecate]

[Well, that's an interesting question. Anthy's got Henriette the Vulpix on her lap and is brushing her thoroughly as the little fox bats at a lock of her purple hair. She smiles, kindly yet emptily.]

You think about the day when they will be with you, of course.

[beastofasister]

But I already do. I've thought about that every day!

[Manaka smiles, too. Unlike the first time she had spoken with Anthy, though, it's an expression full of emotion, her faraway gaze almost shining with it.]

[rosehecate]

[She notices. Aah, so it's someone like that, is it?]

There isn't much you can do if they're not here. You can't help it. [A pause.] What sort of person might you have like that?

[beastofasister]

[At that question, Manaka's face lights up more than it already had, her voice turning breathless and excited as she answers.]

He's a mirage that shouldn't exist in the world — a real, flesh-and-blood storybook prince! He's so handsome and so righteous that just by being near him, it feels like you're being bathed in the sun's light — because he's a person that would never betray his own ideals, even though there's cynicism and longing inside him, too—!

[video]

[journalname]

I suppose you must just find some other way to fill the time.

[well he's just a beacon of cheer]

[beastofasister]

Mm, I know that... I already have other things I plan to do. But still, I thought other people might have some suggestions, so that I don't feel so sad about it.

[She does look a little downcast now...]

[journalname]

[let's just sit here and be sad together]

Perhaps you can spend the day with some friends?

[notvaljean]

[No one has explained this whole Valentine's Day thing to Jean, so he interprets her description a little differently. The person currently most special to him is probably his mom, but she a.) knows she's important to him, and b.) hasn't lived with him in three years so he doesn't miss her that much anymore. No, there's someone else much closer who is absent from his life, and had been pretty damn important to him.]

Same thing I've been doing. Carrying on without him.

[beastofasister]

[She meets his answer with a sigh, softly.]

But I already do that. I do that every day. I miss him so much, so at a time like this, I can't help but be lonely...

[notvaljean]

That sucks. Sorry.

[Jean would like to say it gets better, but it doesn't. It gets less noticeable, maybe, but it never completely goes away.]

Keep yourself busy, I guess? If you don't have time to think about it, you won't miss him as much...

Video

[veggie_vamp]

Well, the way I see is, they wouldn't you to be sad, right?

[beastofasister]

Mm, of course not. Still... It's hard not to think about it at a time like this. I've always wanted to make chocolate for him on Valentine's, but now that we've finally met, I don't have the chance.

[veggie_vamp]

You have the chance here, you can practice making chocolate for your friends!