VIDEO;

[edgewater]

[ parvati's in her room, you think. it's a simple space. it isn't messy, but it isn't exactly clean either. there's a lot of things just scattered about; a few fledgeling plants in messy and lopsided clay pots, multiple toolsets, and various parts and knicknacks that are presumably for her use later. there's a large beanbag next to her window, and multiple shelves lined with trinkets. some that probably stand out are a wooden statuette of tenna t-posing (?), a crochet snow-pikachu, and a neatly folded scarf that inexplicably looks like a long bacon.

parvati herself is close to the pearl, that she's propped up on her small table that's covered in even more random parts she's acquired, and never used nor put away. screws, bolts, some rough equivalent to bobby pins she's found, hair ties...

she's shuffling in her seat, grinning from ear-to-ear does she even have ears in excitement about something she's holding out of frame. ]

Guys! Look what I found! [ whatever she's holding doesn't remain a mystery for long - she pulls it into frame and holds it up to the aperture. it's a picture of two women, in a hexagonal frame. ] No clue how it got here, but I had this! In my room! Back home!

[ a wistful sigh. she points to the woman sitting. ] That's what I look like. Looked like. [ her finger then moves to the woman who is standing. ] And that's Junlei! My girlfriend!

[ her glee is almost childlike. ]

Comments

[video]

[no_ufo_ending]

[ Henry doesn't use the Pearl much because he's not a huge fan of how it makes his brain all open to other Pokemon, BUT he's happy he did because it's kind of a relief to see something nice like this.]

You both look great. Where did you find this picture?

[edgewater]

[ oh! parvati hasn't seen this guy around before. it takes a moment to adjust to the unfamiliar face before she continues. ]

Thanks. And, uh. In the woods? If you'd believe it? [ and while she should have stopped questioning it by now, she still doesn't believe it fully herself. ]

[no_ufo_ending]

[ Henry appears thoughtful, his antennae waving. If she found a photo of herself out in the woods at random...there was a good chance that things from his own home could be scattered around the world as well. Maybe even important things! Not that her photo wasn't important--just the opposite! ]

[ It made sense because the new Pokemon were coming from new places every time...so there was no real way to know where the hole in this world was, huh? ]

[ Henry realizes he's been staring blankly at the Pearl.]

I believe it.

[edgewater]

That's good. Dunno what I would've done if folks had thought I'd gone crazy. [ there's still time for that don't worry. ] I'm Parvati, by the way. Don’t think we've spoken before...?

[ or she just needs to get out more. or work less. girl. ]

[bladeofnymeia]

[long bacon spotted

No but really, Firoza brightens up excitedly. She now knows what a friend looks like! Well, in their actual body!]

Incredible...! It's like how I found my shield, isn't it? Something from home just happened to cross your path!

[Or in her case, the inexplicable urge to dig held fast to her.]

You two make a lovely couple.

[edgewater]

D'aw. Thanks, Firoza. [ she's probably kicking her feet like a schoolgirl off-camera. ] We only got to have one date before I ended up here!

[ if junlei ever showed up, they could easily go for their second, but she sincerely doubts that'd happen. her main motivation for getting home is that second date. and overthrowing the government. they have to do that first. ]

Oh, is that how you found that? I found this in the woods, like somethin' was calling to me. I was real worried I'd end up frenzied for a good while.

[bladeofnymeia]

Yes, that's exactly it! And I felt the urge to dig, right in one spot...and there it was, as if I hadn't been parted from it for months.

[She wants so badly to be bipedal so she can make use of it properly.]

It makes a wonderful bit of protection for my back for now, but someday, I'd like to use it in combat as well. I'm sure many Pokemon don't necessarily expect real shields being thrown into the fray. Maybe some do, but not all.

[edgewater]

[ parvati's not too familiar enough with shields as a physical object (by sci-fi logic they're laser hologram things), but at least firoza can't be grabbed by birds! that's a survival skill that everyone needs right? ]

That just means you've got an edge - and armour! [ maybe she should consider making armour... ]

[positivestars]

Congratulations! [beaming; she's glad Parvati has this reminder!] You both look very cute! What is Junlei like?

[edgewater]

Heh, thanks.

[ she's lucky she's pink, or it'd be really obvious how much she's blushing right about now. ]

She's real handsome. [ which is probably obvious from the photo. ] And so smart! She can run a tight ship - I wish I could be as organised as her. Real skilled at what she does; she's probably the best engineer in Halcyon!

[positivestars]

She is! You're both very lucky.

Organisation is a real skill! It's a good thing. [Ohoh?]. Is that so? You two must make a very good team, then!

[edgewater]

I'd like to think so. Learned a whole lot from her about maintaining ships - doubt I'd be as good as I am without her help. [ after all, years of fixing factory canneries and a lifetime of maintain one of the largest vessels in the system are miles apart. she really doesn't know where she'd be without that help. ]

We don't actually work on the same ship. I work on the Unreliable and she works on the Groundbreaker. Her plate's way bigger than mine, operatin' a ship that size.

video;

[dunchies]

Wow! That's a nice picture of you two, Parvati.

[ He's happy for her! Really! ]

... Is that your kitchen in the background?

[edgewater]

Um. Yeah? Ain't much space on the ship so we cooked and ate in the same place.

[ she shrugs. ] I know it's not the most romantic but we couldn't really. Afford that?

[dunchies]

I get it. Not a lot of room while you're travelling, but. Um.

[ Head tilting. ]

It's not romantic? I thought couples liked cooking with each other.

[edgewater]

I can't cook good to save my life, Laios. I bought the food.

[ she scratches the back of her head awkwardly. ]

I'd, uh. Love to try it with her though?

video

[telewarped]

Huh! Cute.

Let me guess... [And she genuinely didn't cheat by checking the other replies before saying this...] You dug that out of the ground somewhere in the woods, right?

[edgewater]

You ever had to clean dirt off a picture frame? [ she chuckles. ] Yeah, I did. I thought I was going crazy when I felt the. Urge? To go get it?

[ she's not too sure how to word it. urge seems right. ]

[telewarped]

I might've thought you were, too, if I didn't hear about Roza going through the same thing a while back! Good for you!

[There's a pause as she studies the photograph again.]

It's still kinda weird seeing actual humans again... Even just in a pic.

video

[0dchess]

See, that's what I was talking about, a Valentine's Day miracle! [Kinger joins in from back in his pillow fort, cheerfully. Then he sounds a bit more serious and sheepish, as he looks down slightly.]

I should. Probably explain what happened earlier, shouldn't I.

[edgewater]

You doing okay over there?

[ she's been a bit worried. but she'll take a miracle. ]

[0dchess]

I'm fine, I'm sorry I worried you. When I'm in bright light I'm not really good at memory or focus. That's why I don't leave The Spire too much.

audio;

[selfie_centered]

[Cater's not used to the pearls yet and they so don't compare to his beloved smartphone, but watching someone be so happy about their gal is a pure hit of dopamine.]

Oh good for you, girlypop! Aren't you two a pair of cuties~

[edgewater]

[ "girlypop"--? parvati blinks, tilting her head to the side. ]

Oh! Thanks! What did you just call me--

[selfie_centered]

Girlypop? M'am? What kind of vibe are we looking for, formal? Informal?

I just don't know your name.