Video Post

[anexcitableboy]

Everybody's talking about Valentine's Day coming up...

[And Jimmy's confused as hell, which is clear from his expression.]

How is that even here? This is like some whole other planet, how come an Earth holiday is celebrated?

And there's other stuff, too. It took me a little bit to realize it, but there's lots of stuff that's pretty familiar. Not the same, but close, you know? You'd think there'd be all kinds of differences. Not that this place ain't weird, it's weird as hell, but... come on, you get what I mean.

[Or at least he hopes other people from Earth get it. He's still trying to come to terms with the fact that all of this is real, but he's reached a point where he can start paying close attention to this wacky world he's ended up in.]

Is that 'cause of us, all the people who get dumped here? Or was it always like this?

Comments

[defyingfrigidity]

Christmas and Valentine's Day are the only ones I've noticed celebrations for. I haven't been around for many holidays, so... I suppose we'll just have to wait and see with the others.

Considering how important the Pokemon and nature are to the people of this world, I'm a bit surprised they don't have some sort of solstice celebrations. Maybe with the coming of spring it'll be different, though....

[anexcitableboy]

Huh.

Yeah. You'd think there'd be holidays to celebrate important Pokemon or something. Guess we'll have to wait and see.

[defyingfrigidity]

In all honesty, I think I'd be more excited for those sorts of celebrations than ones for holidays we celebrate back home. It'll be something new, and not knowing what to expect gives it something of a thrill, don't you think?

[Man, Elsa almost can't believe she said that. This place must really be changing her...]

[anexcitableboy]

I dunno, I could do with a little quiet routine...

Kinda got sick of not knowing what's coming, since what came was always pretty bad.

[defyingfrigidity]

Sadly, I think "quiet" isn't something this land likes doing much. It's certainly not a bad thing, but...

I understand the desire for a bit of quiet more often than not.

[anexcitableboy]

Doesn't seem so bad so far, outside the weather.

I spent my life moving around a lot, one disaster after another... settling down somewhere quiet's just about all I want these days.

[defyingfrigidity]

I wish I had the ability to settle down someplace quiet back home. Sadly, my duties prevent me from doing that, but... I understand. There's only so many times you can mess things up before you need to get away from it all.

[She laughs, though there's not really that much humor in the sound.] I actually ran away, at one point.

[anexcitableboy]

Yeah, I know what you mean.

I...was getting ready too. Maybe I shoulda, I don't know.

[Would things have gone different, if he'd just rode off into the sunset with Maggie like she'd begged him day after day? Better, maybe? Or worse?]

Doesn't matter now anyway.

[defyingfrigidity]

... If you don't mind me asking... why were you planning on running away?

Private video;

[anexcitableboy]

It's kind of a long story...

[And relies on facts Jimmy's not sure he wants to put out in the open quite yet. Even to Elsa. But he can condense it and omit.]

The short version's that life was just pretty rough. We didn't have much money, my ma, she was drinking bad and wouldn't stop, we...we were... I grew up in a traveling show, and nobody wanted to come to those kinds of things anymore, and the town didn't really want us hanging around. There was a girl, she wanted me and her to go out to California, but I ruined that...

Private video;

[defyingfrigidity]

[... And suddenly, Elsa feels bad for trying to compare her worries to his. Sure, her life hadn't been the best, but... she was still better off than he seemed to be. She... she shouldn't really complain then, right?]

... I don't really blame you for wanting to leave all of that. Being stuck in a place where you're not welcome... it's stifling. Too much so sometimes.

But... how did you ruin it?

[She'll totally understand if he wants her to stop prodding. But Elsa's learned in the time after her coronation that talking can really help.]

Private video;

[anexcitableboy]

I wanted us all to go, you know? Things were getting weird, sure, but... we were still a family. My ma thought I was stupid, said it didn't matter anyway, we'd all end up in jail or the loony bin or something no matter what... I probably shoulda gone when Maggie first asked.

[Jimmy sighs. He's never been one to keep his emotions deeply hidden anyway.]

I was a jerk to her. Tried to get her to dump me, when she wouldn't I...made sure she didn't want me around anymore. We weren't good for each other. Maybe I just wanted her 'cause she was everything everybody told me I couldn't ever have, I dunno. It was a mess.

Private video;

[defyingfrigidity]

... I'm so sorry. This all just sounds like... some horrible mess.

[Geez.... how could such a mess happen to someone like Jimmy? He seems like such a nice guy. He doesn't deserve to get caught up in something so crazy-sounding...]

I don't know your family, or this "Maggie", so I can't really give any advice that wouldn't sound completely hollow... but. As important as your family and your loved ones are, you also need to focus on just you sometimes. Not what other people want, or what you think other people would want...

But it can't be a sudden decision. Believe me, a lot of problems can be solved simply by talking, even if it seems pointless at first.

Private video;

[anexcitableboy]

I had too many people depending on me. Miss Elsa ran the show, but I was kind of in charge of everything else, you know? And we... you don't need the details, but we aren't exactly normal. Life's tough for people like us.

'Cept for Maggie. She's the god damn picture of normal, like a Norman Rockwell broad. And you know what? It's fine. I got another girl back home, somebody like me. And everything's gone to shit anyway, so none of it matters.

My problems ain't ones that got a fix, dollface. But thanks.