5th Gear - Video

[paishodown]

[Asami has waited a few days to post this, gotten through the initial emotional shock of it. Yes, Korra is fine, and she knows that. But she's not here, anymore. And if what she's heard about going home is true, she won't remember anything about being here.

When the video turns on, she looks a little weathered. Definitely tired, as she rests against the side of a giant Arcanine. She didn't cry this morning, that's a start.]

Korra's gone home.

[Asami pauses. She hasn't really thought out the post any further than that. Taking about this is more difficult than just stewing and processing.]

Just... thought her friends would like to know. If you ended up with any of her Pokémon, could you tell me? I'd just like to know, that's all.

Comments

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[doitrockapella]

...That seems to be going around a lot, lately.

Are you all right?

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[paishodown]

I think a part of me is still processing. But she's okay, right? That's all that really matters.

It was going to happen to one of us someday.

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[doitrockapella]

That's usually how it goes.

And it usually doesn't feel fair that they're gone and you're the one left to miss them, at least to some extent. Irrational or not, I think that's natural.

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[paishodown]

That sounds about right.

I'm sure I'll feel better about it in a while. It's just hard to have the bandage ripped off so suddenly. You always know it's coming, but you can't always be thinking about it, so you're never really ready.

[video]

[defyingfrigidity]

[... Oh no....]

Asami, I'm so sorry... [She can't imagine... having someone you loved by your side taken away so suddenly like that...] Are... are you okay...?

[Wait, no. Stupid! She's obviously not okay, why would you ask that...]

I-I mean... would you like to talk, or...?

[Private video]

[paishodown]

[Asami swaps to a private video when Elsa comes on. A preemptive measure in case she gets emotional again.

She takes a deep breath, but it already quivers now that she's safely talking to someone she trusts.]

I'll be okay, I just...

[If anyone has a grasp on how much Korra means to Asami, it's Elsa. Which is good, because finding words is difficult right now.]

You know.

[She swallows, glancing away.]

I got used to waking up next to her. Climbing into her sleeping bag when it got cold...

[Yup she's already getting emotional.]

[Private video]

[defyingfrigidity]

Being separated from someone you love, in such a sudden change of events... it's hard. I know.

[Well, their situations are different. Elsa was isolated away from her family. This... this was someone Asami gave her heart to. If anything, it's worse...but she, at the very least, has some idea of the pain Asami must be feeling.]

... It's okay to cry, Asami. [Something she never told herself until quite recently...] I won't say a word to anyone, and you know I won't think any less of you for getting out emotions that should never be bottled up for too long.

[paishodown]

I have.

[She says with a little nod, still staring blankly away from the screen.]

It's actually been a few days. I'm sorry, I just... didn't want to go on the network a complete mess.

[She's used to dealing with loss more or less alone.]

[video]

[solas_ion]

Ah, sorry to hear that.

[Lancer frowned, crossing his arms.]

...You going to be alright?

[video]

[paishodown]

I don't think it's completely sunk in, yet.

[Asami takes a deep breath and sighs.]

I thought I was doing better, but actually talking about it is different. But... I'm not really used to having this many people care, so... yeah, I'll be okay.

["This many people" being three so far, but that is a lot, to Asami. It's why Korra's loss hits her so hard. Back home, the past three years haven't been anything if not, at least, a little lonely.]

[video]

[solas_ion]

I get it, kid. It happens all the time here and it's a pain in the ass, I know.

[video]

[paishodown]

I knew it had to happen, some time. It's just one of those things that you can't really be ready for. If I was always worrying about her being gone, I wouldn't enjoy my time here.

[bylight]

[Even if their first talk was rocky between her and Asami, her heart does twinge. Korra had been a spirited young woman that Lightning had gotten along with quite well. And seeing Naga without her trainer did nothing but bring her mood down more.]

... I'm glad that Naga was left with you. Both of you need all the support you can get. If there is anything I can do to help, don't be afraid to ask.

[paishodown]

[Asami subconsciously leans a little closer to Naga. She musters a tiny smile to show her appreciation.]

Thank you, Lightning. It's... kind of weird, having all these people reach out.

[bylight]

It's not surprising. You two have a lot of people that care for you both. They miss Korra as well, though I doubt their pain can ever equal yours.

[She knows loss of loved ones all too well.]

[paishodown]

[Asami's weak smile becomes a little more genuine.]

She has that way about her. Touching people's lives no matter where she goes or what she does. I know it's silly, but... She really is like a light.

She's the most important person in the world, to me.

[Asami admits this quietly, staring down rather than at Lightning.]

Maybe that's not healthy, but I didn't really have a choice, back home.

[video] assuming they never did meet since we never got around to that?

[walkersystem]

_{[Not something Molly really wanted to hear, and she looks unsure in that unhappy way when she connects to the video.]}

You mean ... she disappeared?

_{[That upsets her. That upsets her a lot, but she takes a deep breath to answer the question, anyway.]}

I didn't get any ... sorry.

[video] Yeah, that's fine!

[paishodown]

It's fine, I just wanted to know.

And yeah, she... wasn't in her sleeping bag the other morning. And I can't get through to her phone. She wouldn't have just left without Naga.

[video]

[walkersystem]

No ... if the number's not working she's probably really gone ...

_{[She really wishes she had her ability again, but well ...]}

[video]

[paishodown]

Yeah.

[Asami speaks a little shortly, though not out of irritation. She's just trying to keep her emotions in check.]

She wouldn't have just up and left without telling me, especially not after a few days. So I figured I'd just let everyone know.

[video]

[soundmind]

M--

[She stops herself, taking a moment to reconsider how to address this.]

...Asami, I'm sorry. I, uh...I didn't end up with any of Korra's Pokemon, but...if you wanna talk about anything, I'm here?

[video]

[paishodown]

Thanks, Maka. I think I'll be fine, it's kind of just... sinking in, you know?

[capitald]

[Ah... He's heard of these disappearances before, but it's never a pleasant thing to behold. Perhaps he's fortunate that he hasn't formed too many deep attachments. It's rather difficult to say.

That she looks so distraught is proof that the news has affected her deeply. At least, that's what he'd assume. So, before responding, he takes a few moments to puzzle over his words.]

I never met her, but you have my deepest condolences. I wish there was more I could say or do to help you. My experiences with loss are a bit... different than this.

[And by different he means death, something he'd hate to burden her with.]

[paishodown]

Thank you. There... isn't really much to say or do, really. It's just a thing that you know is coming at some point, but... you never know when.

[capitald]

It's a shame. Some predictability would make it so much simpler to accept.

[It's difficult to face the possibility that any one of them could disappear before tomorrow. Within seconds, even.]

I suppose the best thing we can do is savor our time here and savor the connections we form while they last. Perhaps those who've left will even return someday.

[Though his experience with returnees is extremely limited.]