08 | Video | Backdated to the 22nd

[wayhot]

So... I should probably mention that I'm back, huh? [Been back for a few days but. Details.]

It's been a while - [For her, anyway.] - but at least I didn't have as much to catch up on as I did last time. [Really, none of this was like the first time she went home. When she came back, a bunch of time had passed and she didn't even remember leaving. This is time she was home for a year, but barely any time had passed here. So... the opposite of last time. Kind of.]

Still, it's pretty weird coming back, especially with how it messes with your head and junk. I'm not talking about all of the stuff the Hornets did a while ago, but the Porter's own way of making things weird. [She's pretty sure the Porter is responsible for it, anyway.] Like forgetting everything when you're home and then having all the memories of this place come back at once when you return.

I know going and coming back is different for everybody and sometimes people don't remember stuff. But for the people that do, everything coming back at once is pretty normal, right? [It was more than a little overwhelming for her. Frustrating, too. She's happy she has her memories back, but she's still bothered by the fact that she forgot everything to begin with.]

Anyway, at least it won't be as hard to get used to everything again, since I actually remember my time here before. [But... she'll still need to get used to some things again. Like being in a place almost entirely populated by humans - after going back to Ooo and the Fire Kingdom, it's pretty weird.]

Comments

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[stealwithit]

[ she responds with a private channel, because she's starting to be more careful about her network visibility now. ]

Missed you for a while there, Princess, but I'm glad you're back.

[wayhot]

Thanks, Kasumi. I'm glad to be back, too. [Er, sort of.] Well, I'm more glad that things back home don't keep going while we're stuck here.

[Having the Fire Kingdom try to function without her would end in disaster, probably.]

[stealwithit]

You sure don't sound that excited to be back.

What happened?

[wayhot]

Well, I am happy to be back and see and remember everyone. [That much is very true.]

But the Fire Kingdom would be a mess without me, which is why it's good that the time stuff doesn't keep on going. [... Oh, right.] When I went home I overthrew my dad and became the new ruler of the Fire Kingdom. It's pretty math!

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[kanadian]

Hey, FP. Welcome back, did you -- [ How do you address these kinds of things. ] How's your home?

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[wayhot]

[Uh.] Better now, but things were pretty messed up for a little while.

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[kanadian]

You okay?

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[wayhot]

Oh, yeah, I'm fine. But I was brought back after getting someone to stop jacking up the Fire Kingdom. [So while she's grateful that time in Ooo won't keep going while she's here, it's still on her mind. Her kingdom and her people will always be important to her, regardless of where she is or whether or not time continues.]

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[bassriff]

FP! Good to see you again. [lazy wave to the camera.] How's stuff back home? Those dweebs doing ok?

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[wayhot]

Stuff's pretty good. [Now that Princess Bubblegum isn't gronking things up for her and her people.] And Finn and Jake were okay the last time I saw them, but it's been a while since I've really talked to either of them. I spend most of my time in the Fire Kingdom these days.

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[bassriff]

[Peebs isn't the easiest person in the world to deal with.]

Cool, cool. Who's running the show there these days? Still your dad? [from what she'd gleaned of FP's relationship with her dad, she doubts she'd be spending most of her time in the Fire Kingdom if Flame King was still in charge. unless something weird happened.

yeah marceline's totally projecting but whatever]

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[wayhot]

Oh, no, I am! I staged a coup with Cinnamon Bun and took over. Now I keep my dad in my old lamp.

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[restingstitchface]

[Huh. Crane appears curious.]

You seem different.

I was unaware you had returned home. [He looks minutely upset, and hides it by staring off-camera - how can anyone be so cruel?] Still. You've been missed.

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[wayhot]

Thanks, Dr. Crane. [For... missing her? Or something.]

And I guess I am a little different. [She doesn't feel that different, but she couldn't stay the way she was before - afraid of her emotions and anxious about so many other things - and lead the Fire Kingdom effectively.]

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[restingstitchface]

[He's missed one of his favourite patients, yes. He's been pacing circles in his office, ready to burn it down.]

I suppose it must be strange for you, returning here. [He's trying to seem sincere and kind, look!] Whether or not you wish to continue our sessions, that's up to you.

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[wayhot]

A little. I'm going to have to get used to being around so many humans again, but that won't take too long. [It would if she didn't have her memories of this place, but she does, so it shouldn't be an issue for much longer.]

And I'm not sure yet. Maybe after I'm settled in again.

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[huntergames]

FP! Long time no see!

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[wayhot]

Sasha, hey! [Excited, because... it really has been a long time, even before she returned to Ooo.] How have you been?

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[huntergames]

[ Much better nowadays, though it's best not to get into that. She doesn't like to worry people. ]

Fine! I probably should have messaged you sooner, but February was kind of...

[ You know, crazy. ]

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[onhold]

You've been sent home before?

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[wayhot]

Once, but I still don't remember leaving that time. But apparently a bunch of months had passed in between.

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[onhold]

Wait, do you mean the actual act of leaving, itself?

( A pause as she attempts to restrain herself. )

Sorry if I'm asking too many questions.

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[glowsferatu]

It..can be difficult, yes, resolving one's chronology after a time away. More so with as the time periods involved increase, with years since you first arrived at home, and years suddenly filling your memory. It can be disorienting for the first few days. [ or weeks, depending on how much you dwell on it. kanaya is a dweller.

she pauses, running a hand through her hair. might as well get on with it. ]

I owe you an apology.

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[wayhot]

[It takes Flame Princess a minute to figure out what Kanaya means about owing her an apology. She never actually bothered asking or finding out about who did what with that information leak. Mostly she just stayed home and kept to herself after everything was said and done.

But she remembers seeing something about that mess while going through the network a couple of days earlier, checking to see what she missed while she was gone. Something about the Hornets, mind control, and the leaked information... ah.]

You don't have to apologize. Your head was being messed with. It wouldn't be fair to blame you for that stuff.

Besides, it's in the past. All of that stuff happened a year ago for me.

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[glowsferatu]

[ she forces a smile, one more concerned with not looking unpleasant than actually being at all pleasant. it comes out looking a touch sad more than anything. ]

That will be the disorientation talking. A year in mind, perhaps, but little more than a month, here. If your secrets being out carries any heightened scrutiny, that will still be rather fresh. Even if I hadn't done it of my own accord, it's something you may still need to live under.

That's my responsibility, even if not my fault. And so you do deserve the apology, but more than that. You deserve recompense.

[ because an apology, that's just words, and words are worth nothing without action behind them. ]