Video;

[quirkynote]

[The grumpearl projects an image and this time it's of A.B.A, her chimeric form sprawled across one of Oran's many beds. She looks tired, more than usual, and especially for someone who's been out of commission for a couple of months.]

...It would appear that I've fallen ill. I'm...disappointed in myself, I don't fall ill, I'm supposed to be better than that. I survive, I rise, I'm supposed to be filled with potential. ...It's this body, it's weak, even now it's weak. Mightyena was kind enough to allow me back into the guild, and that's where I'll continue to recover. It feels bad... I feel bad...

[A pause.]

...I was aware throughout most of it, at least...I think I was. A lot of it amalgamated with my thoughts, swirling, like a dream. ....I know some of you were there, although it's possible that was also part of the dream. You should tell me if you were actually there or not, s-so I know what the reality really was. Please say you were there...

What else... Oh!

Before I succumbed, a very rude mongoose was able to tell me what my Pokémon species is called. She called it Type: Full. I like that...

...

[At this point, A.B.A isn't sure how to end her message, her stray thoughts just sort of...slipping out.]

I'm not sure what else to say...

I'm hungry. I can't buy snacks stuck in bed...

Comments

[telewarped]

Not what I meant! [She meant someone else, like something official? Something sooner so she could have been there right when A.B.A woke up? But it really doesn't matter now (and at least Mightyena was there).] Never mind, just—Ugh. [She nudges the box closer to A.B.A's reaching talons.] They're for you, dummy. So go ahead and dig in if you're hungry. Not sure which flavor you like best, so I just got all of 'em...

[They were supposed to be for herself, really, but she changed up her order last second. She isn't picky when it comes to malasadas, so if there's a flavor that A.B.A doesn't like, that one can be Shoka's. If not, then A.B.A can have them all.

As A.B.A stares at her, Shoka stares back, still in disbelief—until the question comes, and she has to avert her eyes in embarrassment. Was it weird that she visited as many times as the hospital Pokémon would let her? Maybe they weren't really that close, but...]

Duh... [But she was distraught anyway, and had hoped that the presence of the skull might have been a comfort of some kind.] I just didn't want that thing lying around here anymore. Gave me the creeps. And he—belongs with you anyway, right?

[Ugh, why did she also just call the skull a he?]

[quirkynote]

[As A.B.A pulls the box closer to her now that she has permission, she glances over to the skull, her brows furrowing.]

It's funny... For as long as I've known Paracelsus, my biggest fear was always someone taking him away from me. Even now, just thinking about it...

[Her fur starts to bristle visibly.]

...it makes me so...aggravated. But you...

[Her eyes return back to Shoka, to her...friend. The sweet, tiny creature who puts up with her and asks for nothing in return.]

...you did the exact opposite, didn't you? You didn't take, you returned him to me... Even though you hate him, you understand his importance to me...

[Unsure how to finish that thought, A.B.A offers Shoka one of the malasadas.]

[telewarped]

I guess? Like I said, I just wanted him outta here. [She means it! Hesitantly, she takes the malasada—more just to have something to do with her hands than out of hunger.] And... Sure, fine. Maybe I thought you'd appreciate it, even if you were totally conked out. Having him around, seeing him right when you woke up... or whatever.

[After a long moment of staring at the malasada, her tone softens.]

It's... been weird around here, with you gone. [Quieter. Lonelier. She hadn't noticed how used to (and attached to) A.B.A's presence she'd become until it suddenly wasn't there.] You freaked a lot of people out, y'know?

[Freaked Shoka out, too! She's doing a very bad job at keeping that fact subtle.]

... I'm glad you're back, okay?