video, backdated to March 5

[telewarped]

Hey, losers. This has definitely been one of the months I've had so far, but now I'm officially bored to death.

[There is a general air of malaise permeating this message, even if the voice of the Pokémon sending it—a gray-toned Mimikyu, currently stationed in what appears to be one of the Oran guild's dens—sounds casual and calm enough.]

At least one of you has to have a decent rec for how to kill time around here you can give me... Or just tag yourself. Whatever.

[At the words tag yourself, an image takes shape in your mind. It's astonishingly clear and will remain present in your head until your connection to this particular Grumpearl is broken.]

Later.

Comments

[truthdecided]

Oh really. Care to elaborate?

[If she means Ren... Well, hmph. He would be sentimental enough for that, wouldn't he?]

[telewarped]

[There is a long-suffering sigh.]

I mean, Ren seems to like having you around for some reason.

I guess questin' with you and everything wasn't the worst thing ever for me either. Or at least I didn't wind up any more messed up as a result... Even if you are a total dweeb who's kinda murdering my vibe right now.

[truthdecided]

My, that almost sounded like a compliment.

[Heh. Hearing that from Shoka of all people is a surprise, but...]

Frankly, I can't begin to fathom why Ren holds me in such high regard, given everything that transpired between us, but he always has been a bleeding heart.

[telewarped]

Don't push it. And don't tell me you killed him, too.

[truthdecided]

Someone like Ren is not so easily thwarted.

[Pay no mind to to the flicker of conversation that accompanies his thoughts.]

[telewarped]

Then how bad could it've been? [There's worse things than death, but—] Whatever happened between you two, seems like it doesn't matter all that much to him now.

[Why is he thinking about delicious pancakes right now? Whatever...]

[truthdecided]

Even if I could raise a number of valid points for why he shouldn't care so much, he still would. I just happen to think he could have, and likely should have, resented me more.

But I'm not Ren. It's much more difficult for me to forgive.

[Which includes himself, though that goes unsaid.]

[telewarped]

So you want him to hate your guts?

[truthdecided]

I think he has every right to.

[...]

But only he can decide how he feels.

[telewarped]

Then give him some credit, will you? He must have made that decision for a reason.

... You've got someone willing to go to bat for you. Don't take that for granted.

[truthdecided]

...Is that a hint of jealousy I detect?

[telewarped]

[Under normal circumstances, she'd easily deflect that remark or fire back with another quip, but now, there's a sudden, sharp pang of hurt-grief-anger through their psychic connection. Though it isn't reflected in her voice, which remains calm, forced into a detached tone, it's already obvious: somehow he's struck a nerve.]

You know what? Forget it. Keep feeling sorry for yourself if you want to so bad.

[Maybe she is jealous. She knows what it's like to be completely alone, after all, and the few people who would have gone to bat for her are long gone. That was kind of the point she was trying to make.]

[truthdecided]

[Well, that was unexpected. A wave of confusion ripples through his thoughts. He was just bantering, really, but she seems upset?

This is incredibly awkward.]

...It would seem there's been a miscommunication on my part.

[telewarped]

[Her reaction surprises her, too, really. Why did that comment sting so much? She's more thick-skinned than this, isn't she? How pathetic is that, getting her feelings hurt over a stupid joke like that?

Regardless, it's clear right away that the Grumpearl betrayed her, and Akechi felt what she just did. Figures. Shame entwines with the hurt; feeling suddenly too exposed, she tries to close herself off again, rein in the feeling and speak evenly.]

Yeah, maybe.

[It's even enough, but clipped, terse. She exhales a harsh sigh.]

Whatever. Just saying that not everyone has what you do. So maybe you should just appreciate it and stop trying to make it so complicated.

[It's hypocritical of her to say that, she knows. Even after everything, she couldn't even bring herself to call Rindo her friend. She barely told him, or Ayano, or anyone else that bothered to care about her much of anything before they were all gone forever. Even with the benefit of hindsight, she doubts that she would have been able to do anything differently—but still she finds herself wishing she could have.]

[truthdecided]

[Hmm... an odd sort of understanding accompanies his thoughts. He's certainly familiar with loneliness and jealousy. How ironic that he'd unwittingly hurt someone like that.

Well, it is what it is. He won't ask for forgiveness.]

Frankly, I would hardly say I'm lucky. Ren may accept me, and I know I am fortunate in that respect, but it hardly changes who I am or what I've lived through.

[...]

But I don't know your life story, nor is it truly my place to pry.

[telewarped]

Didn't say that it does. But having nobody else sure as hell doesn't make the sob story any easier to get through...

[Finding people who accepted her may not have changed what she'd been through, but truthfully she felt that it did change her. Having even just one person like that is lucky, she thinks, even after a life of hell.]

Anyway, you're already doing it again. Making everything so complicated! Remind me not to try cheering you up again.

[That was at least partially her own fault, though, with her defenses uncharacteristically fragile.]

[truthdecided]

I'm a complicated person. Surely you've noticed that by now...

[There's a hint of amusement in his words and thoughts, so... partial win, perhaps?]