track 6 | audio;

[bassriff]

[It's been a long, long few days. With all of the chaos during and after the rescue mission, she hadn't had time to talk about this. She begins to play a bass line, going through that for a few seconds while she gets ready to start talking.]

Yeah, so for everybody who knew her, Bonnibel Bubblegum's gone home. Flame Princess, too, but that was a little while ago... [She sighs.]

Anyway. If anyone wants to adopt a pig, let me know. I can't take care of Hamma and Ozzy, you guys.

[Yeah, that should about cover it. The feed ends there.]

Comments

[resipiscent]

[He should have known something was up. Bubblegum always showed up at his place at least once a week for tea -- even though they were gone, she still would have said something.]

You can bring Hamma to my place, if you want.

[bassriff]

You sure? Anybody at your place who's gonna mind? [she knows Riku and Bubblegum were friends, so she doesn't have a problem there.]

[resipiscent]

Nah. Just me and Sora here. And I already buy food for Yamada, so adding Hamma on won't be a big deal.

[Maybe he should consider having Yamada fixed, though... Riku's not interested in a million piglets.]

video

[huntergames]

Oh.

[ It's a little hard to keep the disappointment out of her voice. ]

I was wondering why I hadn't seen or heard from Flame Princess...

video

[bassriff]

Yeah... there was a lot going on.

You knew FP?

video

[huntergames]

I feel terrible for not checking in on her sooner...

[ A beat. ]

Mm! We were friends and she was always very kind to me. I know she has a kingdom to care for, though. I guess... her being home is a good thing.

video.

[glowsferatu]

Funny. Seems only two months ago I was having this same conversation with her about you.

If there's one lesson I've learned, being an imPort as long as I have, it can take some time to be truly certain that someone is gone with any sort of permanence.

[ Though that doesn't mean taking care of their pets in the meantime is for everyone. Not everyone is as gung-ho about new obligations as Kanaya is. ]

video.

[bassriff]

She'll be back.

[She says it matter-of-factly, nodding once. Finn may not have come back since last summer, but some part of her was convinced he'd be back eventually, too. Everything comes back around.]

video.

[glowsferatu]

[ Kanaya raises her eyebrows, nodding in return. ]

That's what I'm saying, yes. The chances for her return are still good.

I wouldn't think otherwise with any solidity until at least a few weeks from now. Possibly not until the middle of March, after the window for new arrivals has closed.

[airshow]

Aw, man, the old revolving universal door's a bummer.

[bassriff]

I think I'm getting used to it. Dunno what that says about me, but hey. Been here more than a year now.

video

[thinhammer]

[ Well, he never met Bubblegum, but he's familiar with that pang he knows Marceline is feeling. Even though she's not showing it like he used to - not in her voice, at least; how'd she do that? - he knows it's there. It's gotta be there, if she cares enough to make this post in the first place. ]

You'll see each other again, though. So long as ya don't stop.

[ It's more a firm statement than anything else. He's not practised in the art of gentle comfort, but something tells him that isn't a necessity here. ]

video

[bassriff]

[It's definitely there, but muted. Already accepted, basically. Naruto's instinct is right, she doesn't need someone to tread carefully right now. Marceline nods.]

I'm not stopping any time soon, dude. Still have work to do. [De-escalate the war, keep the music flowing... She has things to focus on.]

vidya

[helpline]

I'm sorry they left. [ and, because even when he's trying to be comforting he's still the Doctor, ] Do you want me to bring over nail polish or ice cream or anything like that? That's what you do, right?

[bassriff]

[Marceline gives a small nod and a vaguely distant look for a moment, the sort that comes with being used to patterns like this. That comes with age. Finally, she drifts back, just moving on to the second part.]

Nail polish, sure. Strawberry ice cream, definitely.

video;

[subourbon]

So you're the one who took the pig?

[She's trying to keep the relief of being free of any swine occupants out of her voice. Bonnibel was very nice, of course, but it's not like they really had much time to get acquainted.]

video;

[bassriff]

[Marceline switches to video in turn. She's fairly strange-looking too - grey, sharp teeth, puncture marks on her neck. Birds of a feather, apparently.]

That'd be me, yeah. Kinda let myself in.

[beneathbluerafters]

Huh. She left the pig behind?

[bassriff]

The pig's local, so...

Yeah. Hamma's still here, doing her thing.

audio;

[matadorable]

Ay, Marceline...[There is genuine regret in Manolo's voice.] I'm so sorry to hear that.

audio;

[bassriff]

... Thanks, Manolo. [She sighs.]

But I'm good, I think. [Or at least, she's managed to internalize it well enough.] She's got some stuff back home. Maybe when she gets back, she'll be caught up.

You two were buds, right?

[monster_san]

It's better that she is, I hope, but I am sad I wasn't able to know Princess Bubblegum longer. She seems like a good friend.

[bassriff]

It's what it is. [Bubblegum had her own concerns and things to go through back home, timelines being what they are. It wasn't like anything long-term disastrous was waiting on her, so leaving wasn't a nightmare. Her thought process is still that Bubblegum is bound to be back eventually, and waiting isn't gonna be a problem.]

She is, even if she can be a massive pain sometimes. Just don't tell her I admitted it.

audio;

[missleadingquestions]

Aw man, Bubs is gone...?

[Now that's lame.]

...Sorry Marcy. You wanna hang out sometime this week?

audio;

[bassriff]

... Yeah. That'd be cool, Maya.

Got anything in mind?