[On the opposite end of the spectrum, Erina is dressed in what is considered comfortable for her: a long sleeved dress.]
Hello, Jolly. I've been wondering something for a very long while now, and it didn't seem wise to bring up when we were in mixed company during the trip.
[She's a nurse, she can do this.]
Why is it that you always look so tense near the ocean? [She nods at Demon's feelers.] He's always very tightly wound around you.
[Oh fuck her life, she was hoping that much hadn't been noticed. She's silent for the longest time before muttering something under her breath that doesn't sound remotely English. Oops.
Demon shifts a little to put his face in few of the screen, mostly to rest his head on her leg and ignore the screen entirely.]
Demon's just one of the first Pokemon I got 'round here and he's pretty protective. That's all. Dunno where you're getting this whole "tense near the ocean" thing from, granny. [Lying through her teeth, of course.]
[Erina fixes Jolyne with the specific nursing look that says, "Don't you lie to me."]
Well, dearest, I noticed it at the supper, which then allowed me to think about it much after. During the supper, he was much looser to you, when one would suspect he would be significantly more protective around so many strangers.
Nevermind that you have a very specific habit of biting the inside of your cheek. I know, because I do it too, or squeeze fabric of my skirt under a table to relax. Or the way the line of your shoulders tensed up very tightly when you were showing off your home.
[Oh, oh she actually hates that. And is actively shifting a bit when she brings it up, not really noticing the deep breath she's taking when she does so. Right, pretend to not be tense. That's actually harder than pretending to be tense and it doesn't really work out all that well for her.]
It ain't that big of a deal. [Fuck it, she's moving to stand and to pace a bit, staying pretty clearly further inland of the island while Demon happily trots along beside her, considering those feelers have not yet left her wrist.]
'Sides, why does it really matter if it is or isn't true? Isn't anything you need to worry yourself over either way, is it? [Deflect, that seems like the best way to go about these things.] It's none of your business. [That last bit is noticably switching into a different tongue, someone did pick up another language that isn't English. Though she's pretty sure Erina doesn't know a lick of Italian.]
[Jolyne is spilling tells out the same way that the princess spilled out gems and coins whenever she opened her mouth. She doesn't quite catch that last bit; Erina's other language of choice is Hindi, not Italian.]
It is a "big deal" when you aren't even comfortable in your own home, Jolyne. I do not say that we care for you by way of idle flattery. Being unable to let your stresses of the day go once you pass your threshold is going to make it harder for you in the long term.
[At least her tone remains gentle, but firm.]
So tell me why being in such a lovely place would make you tense up like a mussel?
I'm fine. [She quickly snaps back at her, not really thinking about it while she does so. Once she realizes what she's done she pauses for a brief second, muttering something to Demon who squeezes just a bit tighter to her wrist.
Right, right. Take a moment, take a breath, calm down...]
Because I watched damn near everyone around me die, including myself, in the goddamned ocean. Is that what you wanted to hear?
[Erina's expression shifts from stern (if loving) to surprise, to a certain amount of sorrow and resignation. Stiff upper lip, Joestar; she can weep for Jolyne's fate later, but not here and now. Her voice is gentle,]
Yes, actually. I always prefer to hear the root reason for things in all problems. Why, then, of all the places here to live, you and yours would choose to live in such a place that causes you so much discomfort? Thalassophobia is not necessarily solved with exposure, Jolly.
[Unfortunately, she's noticing some of the expression switches and is frowning in turn.] I don't need or want any pity. [Of course she doesn't, she slowly makes her way back to her chair to sit again, rubbing at her face for a moment or two.]
Because I thought it would. Carly's job more or less took her out here and it seemed the best way to go about things. That and, well, I used to love the ocean... before all that. When I was younger, I guess. So it's not like I always hated it or was neutral to it or any of that shit.
[Peda crawls up in Erina's lap and stretches out fully - even his fluffy tail.]
No one should have something they love soured by the events of a later time. Though, death is very much a fly in the ointment of something.
[She doesn't know what the Erina she Will Be handles losing her husband and being in a casket, but she sincerely hopes that Erina won't let such sorrow color her feelings of the sea, or boats.]
Regardless, thank you for saying so; I'll not bring it up in the future, but one must take time away from the constant exposure of such things. It certainly doesn't help soldier’s heart.
[It's an earlier term for the condition, but it sounds much better than "irritable heart" or "Da Costa's syndrome."]
Jonathan and I are planning on finding a place to live here, I suspect it will be far from the sea. You will always be welcome to visit Jolyne, as we do love you and want to see you happy.
[She really isn't all that sure at the end of the day, though she remains quiet for the longest time once again. And just pulling herself to stand again, casually closing that chair and heading towards the houseboat.]
The fuck is soldier's heart? [It's certainly not a term she's ever heard of at this point. Nor does anyone use it, as far as she's aware. But she seems casual enough once she gets into the boat proper and just pulls the curtains closed to the bedroom and switching the light on. This is as good as it gets with ignoring the water.]
You're just now looking for one? Though I guess you two could travel a bit more than I could at the time. Or, well, just kinda worked out this way. But I'll... keep that in mind. Might not be a bad idea from time to time since these islands aren't the best places to let some of my pokemon stretch out. [And some time away from the ocean might not be a terrible idea, not that she'd say that.]
[Honestly, who had been so emotionally-constipated that they daren't teach her the difference? It annoys her on Jolyne's behalf.]
It's a condition normally seen in soldiers - thus the name - where they are always on high alert, heart palpitations, shortness of breath often becoming hyperventilation. Typically when recalling an event that has affected them. There are many things in battles that can do such things. And it sounds very similar to your state at times.
[As Erina counts the various conditions umbrella'd beneath the term in a calm, collected voice, it's clear that she spent time looking into it before all this. She neglects to mention the hyperarousal purposely.]
And yes, we were going to save up quite a bit of our nest egg first, so that we can build a place to our specifications.
[Surprise, you've met the fucker, Erina. But whatever, it's probably fine. She's just a stubborn brat at the end of the day.
It's... a lot to take in and sounds more familiar than she's honestly wanting to believe. Deep breaths, it's fine, Demon's already hopped up on the bed to lay his head in her lap. Right, pet the sylveon...]
Does... it? I guess it might or whatever? Don't really pay that much attention. [Another bold faced lie, but she's pretty sure she'd done a pretty good job of hiding all of that nonsense from everyone else who isn't Erina. It's not fair, honestly.]
I mean, that's the way to go about it. That way it's... exactly what you want and you don't have to do any additions or alterations or whatever any time soon. [This is a safer topic!!!!]
Empathy surely does. I love you very much, Jolyne, of course I'm upset for you, and because you are also hurt. It doesn't mean that I pity you for your fate. It certainly doesn't mean that I am incapable of recognizing that hurt.
[Case in point: this entire conversation. And knowing that if she ever goes home, she will have to see what happens to Jonathan firsthand.]
Oh, do stop with the fibs, Jolyne. We can be honest with one another without you puffing your chest up like a popinjay might to dissuade me. There is certainly nothing wrong with admitting there are times when you are unsteady.
[HMPH.]
It is in the future, though. We've quite a bit of money to raise before then, after all.
Oh my gooooood. [This is the actual Worst Conversation right about now and she's flopping back onto that bed with a loud huff. At least Demon's holding the 'gear for her now with those feelers of his.]
'm not unsteady, it's fine. Everything's totally and completely fine and I'll just... get over it or something. Can't keep being bothered by the ocean or whatever forever, right? That ain't how it works. [Says the woman who pretends everything is fine forever.] I don't really wanna talk about it anymore, it's a circle.
[Rude!!!!]
Just do some gyms or something, you gotta have strong enough Pokemon between the two of you to do a few at this point?
[Erina gives her a flat look. Certainly it has become circular in shape, but she will let it drop for now. One does not simply get over such a thing.] Very well, just do not pretend that it is fine when it is not.
[As for the other matter.]
That is presently the plan between egg sales. Peda is getting quite strong, but one cannot defeat a gym with one pachirisu alone.
[Hey, she's done worse and dumber things than this. She'll figure something out. Probably. Maybe.]
You mean you haven't been training anything else at all, or...? Because that sounds a little insane to rely on one Pokemon and one Pokemon alone even for travelling. [Says the woman with a billion fire types, but It's Fine, Probably.]
[Why the hell a pachirisu is her strongest... Right. She's just shaking her head slowly and taking the 'gear from Demon to set up somewhere so he can rest his head on her chest and she can scratch behind his ears.
She seems calmer with the curtains, at least. So there's that.]
They got a lot of weaknesses, so I'd try to get at least a core check for each type of Pokemon out there. But you know, I did that shit competitively.
Not that it means much since it looks like a good chunk of people already did that shit... [She shrugs slowly, not seeming to be too bothered about it, but whatever.]
But hey, good luck to you. Or if you got questions about a gym or battling or whatever, I'm not really doing that much these days.
'Cause if it's something anyone can do, what's the big deal? [Oh good lord, Erina, you're going to have a lot of work to do here. At least for now she seems content to not argue too much about it.]
Dunno. The prize money and such was nice, but other than that, don't see the big deal. And with little else to challenge me at this point... [She thought she'd be fine to settle down and more or less retire from that kind of thing, but this girl's always insanely antsy and ready to do something else.]
Especially when the majority of my Pokemon are maxed out at this point so there's not that much more I can really teach 'em.
Though on the comment about breeding she huffs softly and turns her attention to the ceiling. That's not a terrible idea, but does she really have room for eggs or something like that...? Hm.]
Maybe. I've dealt with eggs before, but those weren't really... predicted... Might not be a bad thing to do what with them all being maxed out and some having the whole league champion thing under their belts...
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strings_theory) wrote2020-02-10 03:00 pm
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Hello, Jolly. I've been wondering something for a very long while now, and it didn't seem wise to bring up when we were in mixed company during the trip.
[She's a nurse, she can do this.]
Why is it that you always look so tense near the ocean? [She nods at Demon's feelers.] He's always very tightly wound around you.
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Demon shifts a little to put his face in few of the screen, mostly to rest his head on her leg and ignore the screen entirely.]
Demon's just one of the first Pokemon I got 'round here and he's pretty protective. That's all. Dunno where you're getting this whole "tense near the ocean" thing from, granny. [Lying through her teeth, of course.]
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Well, dearest, I noticed it at the supper, which then allowed me to think about it much after. During the supper, he was much looser to you, when one would suspect he would be significantly more protective around so many strangers.
Nevermind that you have a very specific habit of biting the inside of your cheek. I know, because I do it too, or squeeze fabric of my skirt under a table to relax. Or the way the line of your shoulders tensed up very tightly when you were showing off your home.
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It ain't that big of a deal. [Fuck it, she's moving to stand and to pace a bit, staying pretty clearly further inland of the island while Demon happily trots along beside her, considering those feelers have not yet left her wrist.]
'Sides, why does it really matter if it is or isn't true? Isn't anything you need to worry yourself over either way, is it? [Deflect, that seems like the best way to go about these things.] It's none of your business. [That last bit is noticably switching into a different tongue, someone did pick up another language that isn't English. Though she's pretty sure Erina doesn't know a lick of Italian.]
no subject
[Jolyne is spilling tells out the same way that the princess spilled out gems and coins whenever she opened her mouth. She doesn't quite catch that last bit; Erina's other language of choice is Hindi, not Italian.]
It is a "big deal" when you aren't even comfortable in your own home, Jolyne. I do not say that we care for you by way of idle flattery. Being unable to let your stresses of the day go once you pass your threshold is going to make it harder for you in the long term.
[At least her tone remains gentle, but firm.]
So tell me why being in such a lovely place would make you tense up like a mussel?
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Right, right. Take a moment, take a breath, calm down...]
Because I watched damn near everyone around me die, including myself, in the goddamned ocean. Is that what you wanted to hear?
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Yes, actually. I always prefer to hear the root reason for things in all problems. Why, then, of all the places here to live, you and yours would choose to live in such a place that causes you so much discomfort? Thalassophobia is not necessarily solved with exposure, Jolly.
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Because I thought it would. Carly's job more or less took her out here and it seemed the best way to go about things. That and, well, I used to love the ocean... before all that. When I was younger, I guess. So it's not like I always hated it or was neutral to it or any of that shit.
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[Peda crawls up in Erina's lap and stretches out fully - even his fluffy tail.]
No one should have something they love soured by the events of a later time. Though, death is very much a fly in the ointment of something.
[She doesn't know what the Erina she Will Be handles losing her husband and being in a casket, but she sincerely hopes that Erina won't let such sorrow color her feelings of the sea, or boats.]
Regardless, thank you for saying so; I'll not bring it up in the future, but one must take time away from the constant exposure of such things. It certainly doesn't help soldier’s heart.
[It's an earlier term for the condition, but it sounds much better than "irritable heart" or "Da Costa's syndrome."]
Jonathan and I are planning on finding a place to live here, I suspect it will be far from the sea. You will always be welcome to visit Jolyne, as we do love you and want to see you happy.
no subject
[She really isn't all that sure at the end of the day, though she remains quiet for the longest time once again. And just pulling herself to stand again, casually closing that chair and heading towards the houseboat.]
The fuck is soldier's heart? [It's certainly not a term she's ever heard of at this point. Nor does anyone use it, as far as she's aware. But she seems casual enough once she gets into the boat proper and just pulls the curtains closed to the bedroom and switching the light on. This is as good as it gets with ignoring the water.]
You're just now looking for one? Though I guess you two could travel a bit more than I could at the time. Or, well, just kinda worked out this way. But I'll... keep that in mind. Might not be a bad idea from time to time since these islands aren't the best places to let some of my pokemon stretch out. [And some time away from the ocean might not be a terrible idea, not that she'd say that.]
no subject
[Honestly, who had been so emotionally-constipated that they daren't teach her the difference? It annoys her on Jolyne's behalf.]
It's a condition normally seen in soldiers - thus the name - where they are always on high alert, heart palpitations, shortness of breath often becoming hyperventilation. Typically when recalling an event that has affected them. There are many things in battles that can do such things. And it sounds very similar to your state at times.
[As Erina counts the various conditions umbrella'd beneath the term in a calm, collected voice, it's clear that she spent time looking into it before all this. She neglects to mention the hyperarousal purposely.]
And yes, we were going to save up quite a bit of our nest egg first, so that we can build a place to our specifications.
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[Surprise, you've met the fucker, Erina. But whatever, it's probably fine. She's just a stubborn brat at the end of the day.
It's... a lot to take in and sounds more familiar than she's honestly wanting to believe. Deep breaths, it's fine, Demon's already hopped up on the bed to lay his head in her lap. Right, pet the sylveon...]
Does... it? I guess it might or whatever? Don't really pay that much attention. [Another bold faced lie, but she's pretty sure she'd done a pretty good job of hiding all of that nonsense from everyone else who isn't Erina. It's not fair, honestly.]
I mean, that's the way to go about it. That way it's... exactly what you want and you don't have to do any additions or alterations or whatever any time soon. [This is a safer topic!!!!]
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[Case in point: this entire conversation. And knowing that if she ever goes home, she will have to see what happens to Jonathan firsthand.]
Oh, do stop with the fibs, Jolyne. We can be honest with one another without you puffing your chest up like a popinjay might to dissuade me. There is certainly nothing wrong with admitting there are times when you are unsteady.
[HMPH.]
It is in the future, though. We've quite a bit of money to raise before then, after all.
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'm not unsteady, it's fine. Everything's totally and completely fine and I'll just... get over it or something. Can't keep being bothered by the ocean or whatever forever, right? That ain't how it works. [Says the woman who pretends everything is fine forever.] I don't really wanna talk about it anymore, it's a circle.
[Rude!!!!]
Just do some gyms or something, you gotta have strong enough Pokemon between the two of you to do a few at this point?
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[As for the other matter.]
That is presently the plan between egg sales. Peda is getting quite strong, but one cannot defeat a gym with one pachirisu alone.
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You mean you haven't been training anything else at all, or...? Because that sounds a little insane to rely on one Pokemon and one Pokemon alone even for travelling. [Says the woman with a billion fire types, but It's Fine, Probably.]
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She seems calmer with the curtains, at least. So there's that.]
They got a lot of weaknesses, so I'd try to get at least a core check for each type of Pokemon out there. But you know, I did that shit competitively.
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But hey, good luck to you. Or if you got questions about a gym or battling or whatever, I'm not really doing that much these days.
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[She's going to shake the love back into this girl, God help her.]
And thank you, I'll be sure to ask your advice in the event I come up against something that seems insurmountable.
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Dunno. The prize money and such was nice, but other than that, don't see the big deal. And with little else to challenge me at this point... [She thought she'd be fine to settle down and more or less retire from that kind of thing, but this girl's always insanely antsy and ready to do something else.]
Especially when the majority of my Pokemon are maxed out at this point so there's not that much more I can really teach 'em.
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Perhaps you should look into pokemon breeding for a while? It will give you something to do in the meantime.
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Though on the comment about breeding she huffs softly and turns her attention to the ceiling. That's not a terrible idea, but does she really have room for eggs or something like that...? Hm.]
Maybe. I've dealt with eggs before, but those weren't really... predicted... Might not be a bad thing to do what with them all being maxed out and some having the whole league champion thing under their belts...