Second Petal [video]

[rosetotheoccasion]

[Well this is... new. For those who know Ruby, they're probably used to see her as a bouncing ball of energy and excitement. Which isn't a bad thing - Ruby's a pretty upbeat kid who just wants to keep making sure her friends always feel that way too!

But now... now she looks a bit withdrawn. Not outright upset, but she most certainly has the look of someone that's really being bugged by something.]

... Hey, guys.

[Geez, even the way she talks is a bit deflated.]

I kinda have a question. People have been talking about their friends disappearing, and it kinda got me wondering...

When someone returns home, what if they... knew things. About stuff that happened that they didn't experience yet, 'cause someone knows what happened to them in the future, and told them about it.

[... Ah. The picture is becoming clearer now...]

Do you think... could what happened to them later on change, then?

Comments

[loveisanopendoor]

Wait, what?! That's so awesome, I'm jealous! I wish I had powers like that, it'd be awesome if we can be all like, fire and ice, y'know?!

[rosetotheoccasion]

[Yyyyyep Ruby feels the same way.]

If this is all just a game, then... this world isn't real, right? That means there has to be a way out. Like waking up after a long dream...!

[rosetotheoccasion]

No no, you didn't...! Nothing you're doing or saying is wrong! It's just...

[Ruby's words are a little muffled, with her face buried in Penny's shoulder like it is, but oh well. Penny's just gunna have to deal with that.]

It's not fair. Someone as good as you didn't deserve that...

[yanginthere]

—or getting a prize after hitting the end. Like... I figure there are two obvious goals here.

One, we collect every Pokémon under the sun.

Or two - the route I plan on taking - is beating all the Gym leaders. [ Go figure that she would take the more active (read: violent) approach. ]

[in4apounding]

I'm so sorry.

[Yeah, this hug is basically never ending, is it.]

I know it's not my fault, but- you don't deserve this either, living with it. And I don't even REMEMBER-

[Burying her own face, now.]

I'm so sorry you have to feel like this when I don't know any way to fix it.

[Video]

[hashtagafreakingghost]

...I hope it works out for you. [Gently; sincerely.] For...all of us.

[usedglaciate]

You never would have intentionally pressed on any sore spots. You didn't know.

[Weiss hums a bit, pulling back a little.]

...but I think we all messed up, one way or another. I don't think the damage is irreparable, though.

[rosetotheoccasion]

Aw man, that'd be perfect!! And if she's the queen and you're a princess, that means nobody would ever mess with your kingdom! I mean seriously, who would wanna go up against rulers like that who can freeze you or toast you in an instant?

[rosetotheoccasion]

I hope not. I mean... he's harsh, and he yells a lot, but Karkat is Dave and Jade's friend. I wanna like him, even if we can't be friends.

[oh ruby...]

[rosetotheoccasion]

Wha- no!! This shouldn't have anything to do with you. I-I mean, no it does but I really mean...

[augh why is this so hard]

You didn't do anything. All you were doing is having fun. So you shouldn't have to do anything to fix it.

[usedglaciate]

...yeah, I know what you mean. He's not a bad guy, I just don't think he always thinks before he speaks.

Then again, I'm also guilty of that.

[in4apounding]

I know, I know! But-

[Shouldn't have anything to do with her, but does. That about sums up the problem, doesn't it.]

But I want to. Not just for me, but for you too. You've done so much for me, and now you're hurting like this because- I mean not BECAUSE of me I know, but-

[She falls quiet for another moment, the unfairness of everything spinning around her head in a loop.]

[She loosens her grip a little, speaking quietly.]

...Do you want to get some hot chocolate or something? Staryubucks is still open.

text; private

[ladywithnovoice]

Maybe. Have you heard of the phrase "we're our own worst critics"?

[Action]

[rosetotheoccasion]

[There's the sound of stumbling and a brief yip, and a moment later, Ruby opens the door, a rather disgruntled-looking Drei settling down again, tail tucked under him.

Ruby herself doesn't look all that bad thankfully, though her eyes and nose look a bit red around the edges.]

Room service? Geez, so fancy...

[rosetotheoccasion]

[... Huh. Ruby didn't even think about that.]

Think we have to do both? I mean, collecting all the badges might be all you need to do, but if we're all from different worlds, the key to going home might be a little trickier.

[Video]

[rosetotheoccasion]

I hope everything works out for you too, Ashley. Whenever you go home, I mean.

[rosetotheoccasion]

... Maybe that's a good sign. I mean, we got off to a pretty rough start, and look at us now.

[rosetotheoccasion]

But you shouldn't have to do anything! It's not fair that you have to shoulder any of this! Just...

[Penny may relax her hold, but Ruby sure doesn't. In fact, it gets just a bit tighter.]

... Okay.

[Action]

[callbacks]

[Did...did she trip over her dog?]

If you want real fancy, I could've brought you a latte with a milk tulip in it. I'm getting pretty good.

[His smile is wan as he offers her the lemonade, but it's there.]

[in4apounding]

[And returning the squeeze again, she's not letting go until Ruby does.]

[Getting to the coffee shop might take a while.]

It's not fair. To you, to me, to anyone, but-

[Another pause, collecting her thoughts again.]

I don't know if I even CAN do anything about. That. But I can get my best friend some hot chocolate and maybe help her feel a little better?

[yanginthere]

I hope it's not both. [ She groaned. ] Not only will that take forever, but playing catch-and-release with animals this smart just sounds ... mean.

[ Yang hummed quietly. ] I think it's worth checking if there are records of anyone collecting all the badges before, or close to it, and seeing if they're still here. The people who've been here for years... maybe they just don't want to go home. [ Or. Can't. ]

[rosetotheoccasion]

Even if they weren't this smart, it'd still be really mean. Imagine adopting a million Zweis, then just leaving them in a pound. That's horrible...!

... B-But yeah, that sounds like a good idea. And all these gym leaders... they're kinda like celebrities, yeah? There has to be a record of people who beat them.

[Video]

[hashtagafreakingghost]

You and me both, Ruby.

[rosetotheoccasion]

[Ruby hates this. She hates feeling useless and she hates it when her friends feel useless too. It's frustrating and upsetting... but oddly enough, Penny's suggestion does a lot to quell those feelings. For the moment, at least.]

... Can it be the fancy kind? With whipped cream and caramel?

[Action]

[rosetotheoccasion]

[She takes the lemonade, but honestly, she looks a bit more interested in that other thing.]

Whoa, what?? You can make those things? That's so cool...!