[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.

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.

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.

[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.

[video]

[journalname]

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

[well he's just a beacon of cheer]

[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.]

[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)

[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.]

[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.]

[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...]

[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?

[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.

[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?

[journalname]

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

Perhaps you can spend the day with some friends?

[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?

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 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)

[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?

[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.]

[torsion]

That sounds wonderful. :) I hope she'll have a happy one.

I understand that feeling well. It's a difficult situation to be in. I think the best you can do is carry on and not forget why you feel that way and why it's important to you. I'd rather feel like my chest is so tight that it feels like it might burst than nothing.

I'm sure they will.

[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—!

[thedifferencebetween]

Okay, just wanted to check. Don't want ya to think I'm running out on ya in a time of need, but...

Yeah, I have plans.

[beastofasister]

Mm, okay! I'll stay out of the way, then.

[thedifferencebetween]

Oh, you don't have to worry about that. We're not gonna be home.

You and 'Laura could have a sleepover or something, if ya wanted.

[usedstockpile]

Sure about that? She seems to be a bit of a show-boater. Are those...ten...tacles? [They look...kind of fleshy. That's kind of weird. Not that Bel minds. Pokémon aren't so easily perturbed! Especially not by species relaties.]

What, Bel? You're awfully interested. [It doesn't occur to Gil that Bel may consider Chiffon his Valentine, or anything grossly cute like that.]