Chapter 50; Text; Backdated to 11/28 morning

[tentacletrainer]

I have two questions for you.
Does anyone else have...strange, vivid recollections of things that happened over the weekend, but no physical proof when there should be?
Such as, say, someone very important to you that you hadn't seen in years, giving you something very important to them to keep close and then...waking up with both them and this item missing?

My second question.
How do you distract yourself when your usual methods are not working and you really, really wish they would?
I thought knitting would do the trick as usual, but though I've finished many of my projects, it's far too mindless.
Definitely not doing the job.

Comments

[ghostytrainer]

I'm afraid you are going to have to be a bit more specific than that, Miss Lalonde. Remember, I can't help you if you aren't willing to talk!

[He gives her hand a little squeeze.]

[tentacletrainer]

Why did it have to bring her here and then take her away again? Why couldn't it have just...left her alone?

[[She's trying very, very hard to keep her voice steady, but it's getting harder as she talks.]]

It's not fair. I'm sick of this. I'm so sick of it.

[ghostytrainer]

[John is silent for a moment, rubbing over her knuckles with his thumb.]

I wish I knew. I really do. But the best answer I have is "why does Johto do any of the bullshit stuff that it does?" Which I am fairly sure does not help anything.

[tentacletrainer]

I just. I just wish it would stop. I just wish all of this back and forth with our friends and family and loved ones would stop. That they would fucking remember shit for once upon returning. That we don't have to rebuild relationship levels we had before from ground zero again.

[[Don't mind her turning to bury her face in your shoulder. She's not crying, but she just. Wants to hide a little. Also hopefully he can still feel his fingers, because her grip is starting to really tighten.]]

I want everyone to stay. I want my mom.

[ghostytrainer]

[John sighs, tilting his head to rest it on top of Rose's.]

Trust me, Rose, you're not the only one. But that's just how things are here. There's not really anything that anybody can do about it. We just have to enjoy what we can get, you know?

[tentacletrainer]

But it's so hard to. It's so hard to put on that stupid brave face and just...deal with it. I don't want to deal with it anymore, but it's not like my other option is any better! There I just go home to where mom is dead and never coming back and we're being chased by some impossible demon with little idea of how to defeat him and everyone is dying.

[ghostytrainer]

[John's silent for a moment, just staring at their hands. Oh hey...she's squeezing kind of tight, isn't she. Yes, he does seem to be losing feeling in his fingers. Oh nnooooooo. When he finally speaks again, it's in a quiet whisper.]

Please don't say it like that's actually an option. Because it's not. You can't leave me.

[tentacletrainer]

[[And now it's her turn to fall silent. As much as she's sure that wasn't meant to call her an ass, she kind of feels like an ass.]]

It's not an option. I wouldn't leave you, John. I promise.

[ghostytrainer]

[He knows that, ultimately, she doesn't have any say in the matter. And that equally as ultimately, it will always be an option on the table. But he hates thinking about that. About how one day, she could very well be taken back home and there's nothing John would be able to do about it.]

[But if he doesn't think about it...]

And I promise the same for you so... it'll be okay. Not right this second or anything but eventually. Eventually it will all be okay again, Rose. You'll see.

[tentacletrainer]

...yeah.

As long as we have each other, things will be okay I think.

[[At this point Rose curls up a little more beside him, instead of just holding his hand she moves to wrap her arms around his and resting her head on his shoulder.]]

[ghostytrainer]

Mmmhmm.

[He snuggles closwer to her as well, pressing a kiss to her temple.]

So what did she have to say?

[tentacletrainer]

She objects us marrying if she is not here to witness it. And make sure I have a proper dress for the occasion.

[ghostytrainer]

[His heart almost stopped there for a second after "objects us marrying". Rose, you passed up a perfect opportunity there.]

Oh, okay. Well I guess that is a fair demand on her part. If it were my daughter, I would want to be there for something like her wedding day. Though I don't know what this bit about a "proper" dress is. Pretty sure you will look amazing in whatever you put on.

[tentacletrainer]

Well, she called it a "totes hot dress". If that tells you anything.

[ghostytrainer]

[He just laughs at that. Really? Totes hot? How old is your mom, Rose?]