Nepeta: Try to stop caring (and fail at it).

[rogueofheart]

[The kitchen is in shambles, so watch your step. Empty milk cartons are scattered around, as if someone decided to drink the castle's supply of milk and just toss the garbage aside. In fact, that's exactly what happened. The fridge is completely empty of milk and milk-substitutes. There are also little puddles of milk that seem to have seeped out from the discarded cartons, pooling where they may.

And in the center of the kitchen? There's one feline troll laying on her back and staring at the ceiling with a vacant, far off expression. She makes no attempt to move out of anyone's way, letting anyone who passes simply walk around her.

Her journal lays discarded a few feet away from her, open and with only a few words written. It's as far as she got before the milk binge began.]

Rose left, too.

Comments

Dictated

[cyan_maid]

[...It had to be the expeditions, didn't it. Everyone always leaves when she's away, or getting ready to leave, or...]

Is this for real?

ditto!

[rogueofheart]

[She hears Jane's voice, but it takes a moment to register. She lifts her head from the floor, looking around the kitchen for her friend. When she doesn't see her, she moves to proper self on her elbows.

Oh, right. Her journal. She drags it closer to her and then lays back down on the floor.]

Uh huh.

[cyan_maid]

[This isn't like with Aradia, where someone she hadn't known reported the news. Jane knows Nepeta, she doesn't need much more confirmation than such a sad response.]

The outpost...it'll be awfully quiet without them, won't it.

[rogueofheart]

Yeah.

[She's not much of a conversationalist, but it isn't because she's trying to blow her off. She just really doesn't even know what to say. She'll be back? How many times has Nepeta used that line to cheer everyone up and keep their hopes up? There's a reason her aspect isn't Hope.]

[cyan_maid]

[Hey, Jane's not complaining. She can understand; while she might not have been here as long as Nepeta, she's seen friends come and go, too, whether they've played the game or not. Every loss hurts.]

At the very least...it's a good thing to miss them, I think. It only means we cared about them dearly.

[silentrunning]

[Even though Chell's out on the expedition, it doesn't mean she doesn't have her journal. And it sure doesn't mean she's not reading. So when she sees this in the journal, she writes back.]

Nepeta? Is that you? I'm so sorry.

[rogueofheart]

[Oh hey Chell. Once again, Nepeta lifts her head trying to search for an actual person standing in front of her. She lets her head drop and drapes a lazy hand on the journal.]

It's okay. I think I'm getting used to it.

[silentrunning]

It still sucks.

[Chell sighs.]

Are you drunk?

[rogueofheart]

[She scoffs lightly.]

No, I just drank a pawful lot of milk.

[silentrunning]

[Hey. It sounds good to her.]

Mmmm. Sounds like a good thing to do.

[OOC: And thanks to you I am now going to get some milk.]

dictated;

[goingrogue]

[ Roxy can't bring herself to speak right away. Of course she already knew, not only because she was the only form of her mom she ever knew, but her cat had found its way to her. She couldn't even shove her face in its soft fur as she collected herself.

She lets the feed just run without sound for several minutes before finally speaking. ]

... Talk about the biggest bummer of the century. The only time I ever got spend time with my mom and she's gone before I even really got to know her. Like this castle knows what we love and just takes it from us and there's nothing we can do 'bout it. Just sit back and let it do its thing and hope it'll bring them back again soon.

ditto!

[rogueofheart]

[Oh, right. Roxy's going to take this the hardest, isn't she? Nepeta almost feels guilty for sulking. Sure, she was good friends with Rose. But it isn't just Rose, it's everyone leaving. The number is dwindling faster than she can even keep up with.

But that was Roxy's mom. Or daughter. She never really completely understood it. She should do something. Say something. Except she doesn't even feel like forming words.]

I know.

[She should say something more.]

Do you like milk?

ditto!

[goingrogue]

[ She sighs again. ]

Why this castle gotta be so depressing. It needs to cut that shit out and just be a happy castle. Like it was when it was a wizard castle. Now that's a happy castle I can get behind.

One percent or two?

[rogueofheart]

Any kind of milk. I think I left a little bit. You can have some.

[Translation: Don't leave me alone in this kitchen while I'm moping.]

[goingrogue]

Can't say no to an invitation like that. The kitchen?

[ It's okay, Nepeta, she doesn't really want to be alone right now anyway. ]

[nukeoleptic]

.. jeez. She'd been here forever, hadn't she?

[rogueofheart]

Two Earth years and... a few months, I think.

[Thanks to that research she did about everyone's coming and going patterns. It hurts a bit more to put a length of time on it, and she wishes she didn't know that fact.]

I remember when she arrived. It was her second time here but the first time I got to meet her in person.

[nukeoleptic]

[ The measurements, the exact numbers - dates and facts - had the absolute opposite effect on Jade. They were sort of soothing, in a way. There's a smile in her voice, but it's unmistakably wistful. ]

This was my first time meeting her, too. But maybe she'll come back soon.

[rogueofheart]

And then we have to start all over again, just like always.

[Not that she wouldn't meet her friends a thousand times if she had to, but all this leaving is beginning to take its toll.]

[nukeoleptic]

[ Jade is quiet at that for a moment. Reflecting. ]

That's kind of the worst part of the castle, isn't it? Making friends is kind of... I don't wanna say 'scary.' But it can be a little nerve-wracking, huh.

taggin u is easy 'cause you're beautiful (also action)

[samson]

[Brock is heading to the kitchen because he needs some sugar for something stupid he's baking and is too lazy to go to town and he doesn't like wishing for things. The magical way the kitchen restocks itself, by the way, is something he is willfully hypocritical about.

So, he steps inside and

what






is happen.]

Jeez, did a cow explode in here?

ilu

[rogueofheart]

[At this point, Nepeta stopped looking for the sources of the voices, assuming everyone was just going to talk to her through the journal. She doesn't sit up until she sees the very large shadow of one Brock Samson blocking one of the blinding fluorescent lights above.

Now that it's someone she knows who actually sees her lying on the floor, she feels a little silly about all this. Not enough to do anything about it, but it's the thought that counts.]

I got thirsty.

uguu

[samson]

[Yeah, what a weird concept, people actually interacting in person. Brock is old, though, so he doesn't quite get you kids and your... magic journals. Whatever.

Brock just peers down at her, brow slightly furrowed.]

That's... some intense thirst.

ueen

[rogueofheart]

[Way to make her feel even more embarrassed, Brock! It's a good thing, though, because she's been at this for too long and really should get up soon. Like an hour ago.]

I guess I went a little overboard.

uuwaa

[samson]

[Brock Samson is not an extremely sensitive individual.

Also, it's weird. Who goes around bingeing on milk...?]

That's... maybe. Yeah. [He glances around a bit awkwardly. All these cartons, it's like a milk warzone...]

Uh. So... are you okay?