anexcitableboy | Video Post

[Jimmy comes home from his 'vacation' in a great mood, which quickly breaks entirely when he gets in to a house full of distraught Pokemon and no Ib. He knows it happens. He's talked to plenty of people who've lost friends and family, but it's something else altogether to come home and find what you've started to think of as your family gone.]

[Again.]

[He's been here long enough to know he should let people know. Ib has friends. But making an announcement makes it real. He puts it off for a good chunk of the morning, busying himself with making sure all the Pokemon are okay. He's glad he doesn't keep alcohol in the house, he's already wanting a drink. Finally, he slumps down on the couch, various Pokemon on either side of him.]

Uh...

Ib's gone home.

I dunno when, I've been gone for a week. I just came home and...

[His voice chokes and he knows if he says anymore he'll start crying over the 'gear and he doesn't want to do that.]

Uh...anyway, I dunno what to do now. I'm looking after her Pokemon, there's a bunch, and I guess the house is mine now... This is way too much house for one guy. You know I only moved in 'cause I wanted to make sure somebody was taking care of her right.

I know she's just back home, but...I dunno. Feels like I oughtta do something...

[He takes a long, shaking breath.]

I love that little girl.

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Shit, I'm sorry.

I probably shouldn't drink...I have a problem with it. But I could use some company.

Fair enough. Want me ta come ta you, or do ya want ta be outta the house?

She kept me off the sauce, you know.

Maybe it'd be better if you came over, I don't wanna leave her Pokemon alone right now.

[Joker gives a grimace. That's all the worse. Makes him regret his initial offer.]

Got it. Just give me the address, and I'll be over there in a heartbeat.

Thanks.

[Jimmy isn't bothered by it - he comes from a culture where he's always been odd man out for not drinking, save for his disastrous fall into prompt drunkard territory. He gives Joker the address and thanks him again for the offer of company.]

[Joker bids him well before gathering up a few things to make his way over. No liquor is fine- there's plenty other things he can bring on over.]

[So when there's a knock on Jimmy's door, Joker is there with a small throng of Pokemon and a backpack filled with things slung around his good shoulder.]

[Jimmy's looking tired and puffy from crying, but not nearly as bad as a few months ago when one of his drunken binges was broadcast by his worried starter. The living room is full of Pokemon when he opens the door, most of them listless and curled on the couch if small enough to fit.]

Hey. Thanks for coming over.

[Jimmy really appreciates it.]

What're friends for?

[Because in case the circus anniversary wasn't clear enough, you've definitely landed yourself in that circle, Jimmy.]

[From between Joker's legs, a tiny little Sylveon bursts forward. No time for you nerds, he has to cuddle up and put his feelers on any Pokemon that will let him get that close. Joker chuckles a little.]

Sorry 'bout that one. Got all worked up when I said why we were droppin' by.

No man, don't apologize, I can use all the help with these guys I can get.

[Jimmy gestures to the living room, and runs his hand over his hair. He's not wearing his gloves. Sure, Joker's already seen his hands, but he's slowly getting okay with just not wearing his gloves in general.]

Come on in. Make yourself comfortable. Uh...you want anything? We got lemonade.

[Though he probably shouldn't say 'we' anymore.]

That's what I should be sayin' ta you. Brought a bit in case ya didn't feel like cookin' or the like. Invidia, be a lad, won't ya?

[The Zoroark goes to unzip the bag on Joker's shoulder, pulling out a container that's clearly full of biscuits.]

Got a few other things, too. Can always save 'em for later, if ya like. Technology these days is sure some sorta marvel that way.

Aw geeze, man...

[Jimmy can't express himself right. He's just really touched by all this and he doesn't know how to respond properly. He's not used to this consistent niceness.]

I really don't know what to say. This is really great of you.

[Shit, he's getting all emotional again already.]

[Letting Invidia and the other Pokemon of his handle the food, Joker leans in closer to wrap his warm around Jimmy and squeeze his shoulder reassuringly.]

Just helpin' a friend out. Times like these, we need ta help one another.

Still, man...

[Jimmy spreads his hands as he settles in on the couch, nudging Pokemon out of the way. He's still not used to people being so damn nice to him. But he figures he shouldn't be surprised by Joker, he's Jimmy's people. And they always stick together.]

It just bites, when people leave your life, you know?

Yeah, I know.

[Joker goes to find his own bit of space to sit at, his Mime Jr sticking to his heel as always. She seems even more overtly sad than he is, even with how much energy she puts into keeping up with him.]

Never gets easier, either.

Yeah, that's what they say. My ma always said life just wasn't fair, either toughen up and get used to it or lie down and let it crush yah.

[Jimmy fishes out his cigarettes and lifts his eyebrow in a 'does it bug you?' gesture.]

I never liked either option, yell'ya the truth.

Ha. [The laugh that falls out of him is dry, but his Mime Jr besides him outright scowls.] Makes it sound like ya can never win, right? Even for a minute.

We'd fight about it a lot. She'd always tell me I was too much of a dreamer. Just 'cause I want a better life for us. It's shit, hauling ass all over the country, getting chased out of places, beaten up... and she'd just tell me I was crazy, it can't ever be like that for people like us.

[He shakes his head and leans back against the couch, eyes misty.]

Then I came here. I don't even have to live off on some farm, I got a house right in town and everything's cool. I got a normal job, and normal friends and no one gives one goddamn about my hands.

[Joker listens to it, to the familiarity in those thoughts and desires. Without really thinking about it, he starts to hum quietly.]

Tom, he was a piper's son, he learned ta play when he was young. And the only tune that he could play was "Over the Hills and Far Away"... Over the hills and a long way off, the wind shall blow my top knot off.

[The Sylveon comes bounding over for a moment, touching his face with the ribbons until he shoos them away so that the rest of the Pokemon can get fussed over.]

That rhyme got repeated more times than prayer when me and the rest a my family were young. Once we got outta the streets, we were all sure of that phrase, "over the hills". When you've been already at the bottom, ya can't go anywhere else but up, right?

So we figured that sooner or later, we'd go "over the hill", that things would get better.

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