12th sketch - [accidental video/possible action, forward-dated to a less weird time]

[sketchingideals]

[About a day ago, Jeb vanished from Luceti. He left no trace behind this time, almost as if he had been sent home.

Well, he had been sent home--what had been a day in Luceti had been a year back home. He had learned so much... about Tori being the fragment, about his own connection to Terare of Earth... more details of the atrocities Donovan had committed in the past and continues to commit. And despite that, he can't hate Donovan. He can't--

The last thing Jeb remembers from back home is being attacked. He wasn't entirely sure why--didn't Donovan want him and his twin siblings alive?--but Tori and Michiru had shoved them out of the way.

And that's the absolute last thing he remembers, fresh in his mind. He... he doesn't even know if they're okay...

His eyes open, and he shivers. He's just in those white cotton pants again, his clothes once again folded next to him. He's back. He's back in Luceti, though it registers in his mind slowly. He's even woken up close to the spot he did when he arrived the first time.

He should lift himself up, try getting to the village... but he can't. He just can't. With blurry memories of the year he spent here and much more fresh memories of Tori and Michiru taking that attack swimming around in his mind, he just curls up and holds back tears.]

I'm so sorry...

[It's probably fortunate--and unfortunate--that the journal is recording. It at least ensures that someone will know he's not gone for good. Alternatively, feel free to find him, whether it be accidentally or intentionally]

Comments

[tsunsandsteals]

Eh? [Silver puts down his muffin and cup of coffee as the journal starts talking to him. Jeb? Come to think of it, he hadn't seen Jeb at all yesterday] Jeb? Where are you? What's going on? [if that little weakling's harassing him again...]

[voice]

[ofwesternwinds]

[Well, after that mess from yesterday, Rudy still seems to be in one piece (thankfully). Talk about a way to open up New Feather season.

As he's looking through the journal, one recording manages to grab his attention. One that looks like... a New Feather? He listens to the feed but isn't really sure what they were getting at; they sounded upset, clearly.]

... Hey, are you okay?

[sketchingideals]

[It takes Jeb a couple of moments to recognize that voice.]

Silver...? [Yeah, that's right. It's his housemate...]

[voice]

[sketchingideals]

I... [His voice is shaky.] I don't know. I just...

[Hold it together. They have to be okay, back home. There's no way that they died from that...]

[tsunsandsteals]

Jeb? Where are you? What's going on?

[voice]

[ofwesternwinds]

[Yeah, that sounds like a New Feather all right. Of course, that's just the impression Rudy's getting. Still, they sound confused, so let's try to be reassuring.]

It's okay... take it easy. Did you just arrive here?

[sketchingideals]

I... I'm in the forest. [Sits himself up, just a little.]

[voice]

[sketchingideals]

I-It's more... like I just came back. [He tries to laugh, but his voice is still so shaky.]

[tsunsandsteals]

Hang on, I'll come get you.

[sketchingideals]

Thank you... [Part of him wants to lie down again.]

[tsunsandsteals]

[He doesn't even think, he just gathers his Pokeballs and his pack and runs off to find his housemate.]

[sketchingideals]

[When Silver finds him, Jeb will still be sitting up, staring down at his journal.

No... they have to be okay. They have to be. He just needs to keep believing this...]

[tsunsandsteals]

[Silver's first instinct is to look for any injuries. Not too up close, just looking him over from a safe distance.]

So what happened? You disappeared for a whole day and now you're all shaken up like you were attacked, or something.

[sketchingideals]

[Very quietly:] ...I went home.

[tsunsandsteals]

...something happened there, then, didn't it. To your family? To Tori?

[sketchingideals]

[He's tense, and his breath is caught in the back of his throat. He's frozen in place and looks terrified.

Allow that to speak for itself, Silver.]

[tsunsandsteals]

... [Well, Silver's at a loss for what to say here. Comforting's not his strong suit, but he doesn't want to just flat out ask if they're dead or exactly what happened. Jeb's a mess as it is.]

...oh. [sorry, that's all he can say, Jeb]

[sketchingideals]

[It's all right, Silver. Even through his distress, Jeb understands that his housemate is not always the best with words. The fact that he's here is really enough.]

They... they have to be okay. I need to keep... telling myself that.

[tsunsandsteals]

Then they're okay. [he doesn't know that, but it's his job to make sure Jeb doesn't go crazy worrying, so if he has to fake optimism he will]

[voice]

[ofwesternwinds]

[Oh. His mind goes back to the events of yesterday. Another one who left and returned to this world. Rudy frowns, hearing the strained tone in the other person's laugh. He doesn't know for sure what's wrong, but... it's pretty troubling to hear someone like this, New Feather or not.]

Everything okay over there? Is there-- Do you need any help?

[sketchingideals]

[He does his best to smile.]

Thank you, Silver.

[voice]

[sketchingideals]

I--

[He wants to say no. He doesn't want to bother others or be a burden. But to have someone around, to not be alone...]

I'd... like that. Thank you for offering.

[voice]

[ofwesternwinds]

It's no problem at all.

[Honestly, whether his offer would have been refused or not, Rudy would have understood. But in a time where someone's confused and possibly hurting, sometimes having at least someone to talk to alone helps. It's... at least better than being alone.]

My name's Rudy. Can you tell me where you are?

[tsunsandsteals]

...let's go back to the house. You should probably have something to eat.

[sketchingideals]

[Laughs a little.]

No offense, but I hope you're not making it. [He's just trying to tease, like friends sometimes do.]

[voice]

[sketchingideals]

I'm Jeb. Even if it's like this, it's nice to meet you.

[Inhale, exhale.]

In in the forest.

[voice]

[ofwesternwinds]

Jeb... Okay, hang on. I'll be over there in a bit.

[He's already on his way, in fact. It's not as much a suprise as it sounds; what with being a drifter, Rudy has a habit of taking off from the village as it is. Sometimes for days at a time--being stuck in one place too long can make the drifting sort antsy.

But with how big the forest can be, finding New Feathers might be a needle in a haystack without some sort of hint to go by. Hopefully he isn't too far from the village...]

Can you tell me more about your surroundings? Do you hear anything nearby, like a stream?

[Since Jeb doesn't sound like he's in the best shape right now, Rudy will be speaking in a calm, even tone, trying to keep as straight to the point as possible.]

[tsunsandsteals]

[Despite wanting to be offended and pissed at being teased like that, Jeb just laughed. And he's teasing. That's a sign he's okay...or going to be.]

Come on, I'm not that mean!

[sketchingideals]

I know you're not. [Oh look, and there's a real smile now!] Thank you for being such a good friend, Silver. I know I can count on you.

[voice]

[sketchingideals]

I'm pretty sure I'm near a stream. I don't think I'm too far off from the village, actually...

[But he still doesn't want to move. Not with the images running through his head and refusing to leave him be...]

[tsunsandsteals]

...yeah. Don't worry about it.

[voice] > [action]

[ofwesternwinds]

Alright, hang in there. I'll be over soon.

[Admittedly it's a helpful hint, as it narrows down the list of potential places. It takes a while but eventually Rudy shows up, looking around for any signs of Jeb. Someone in New Feather clothing shouldn't be too hard to spot, hopefully.]

[action] i apologize for being so slow and fail, omg

[sketchingideals]

[Jeb hears someone approaching, but he's not entirely sure if he should call out or not. It's still much to even move. His brain is still trying to unscramble, too.]