Drowning my Sorrow [open]

[Inkythulhu]

The world seems not the same
Though I know nothing has changed
It's all my state of mind
I can't leave it all behind
I have to stand up to be stronger

Many came to Escapade City to forget their worries. To frolic and have fun. To experience joy and laughter. But, that wasn't why Jen was here. That last time she'd been here was with her family when she was very young. Now...She came here to forget. To drown her sorrow, drink away her pain. She slowly made her way to a less respectable part of town, having dropped her bags at a hotel for the night and returned her Pokemon. She normally hated the party district...But she was tempting fate now. She just didn't care.

Jennifer picked her way through the growing evening crowd, finally ducking into a bar. She didn't need to flash ID here, and they hardly gave her a second look when she came up to the bar. It took her a moment, but she did finally get a hold of the bar keep. "Something strong...Surprise me, and make it two." She paid the guy double, so he'd make it fast and not ask for ID. He quickly returned with her drinks, each in 6 oz. glasses.

The noble woman grimaced when she downed the first one in two gulps, up ending the glass into her mouth. She nodded to the bar tender and walked off to a nearby table, sliding into the booth seat and keeping to herself while she drank her second drink. Slowly, the effects of the alcohol sank in for her, making her face flush with blush. "Woah...They don't fool around when you say 'strong'..." she muttered.

I know I should realize
Time is precious
It is worthwhile
Despite how I feel inside
Have to trust it'll be alright
Have to stand up to be stronger

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv181/SojiRem/lanceRRossiposttable.png);][atrb=width, 397][atrb=height, 297][atrb=style,border:0 red none,b,Table][scrolly:h(235),w(200),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:50px;margin-left:10px;)]"Indeed they don't," a dry voice answered Jennifer's mutter. Lance Rossi was sitting on the bar-stool next to Jennifer and wore a grim expression on his features. He looked older than he normally did, closer to his actual age, as if the years had finally sank into him in a short amount of time. He was feeling weak, among other things, and more lifeless than not. After a moment, he slowly picked up the drink in front of him and sipped it. "But it helps things... some things, anyways," he sighed. It was like the day of the revolt those short years ago all over again. The only change was that the kingdom had already fallen. It was still all senseless murder, and the old former Eastern Duke had no words for it. When he had heard of the attack, he had initially rushed home to his castle... yet before he could even come to the front gate, he found himself unable to come closer. It was supposed to be home, and he had gone to check on his children, yet something had stopped him. Whether it was a sense of pride or possibly the realization that rushing in this way would probably cause complications for himself or possibly something else all together, he didn't know, but he had stopped and walked away again. Regardless, he felt weak from it all. Having gone all the way out of the East for reasons he still couldn't understand himself, he had come to this bar and settled there with his moping expression and had remained there most of the night. "I'm sorry, that was probably not meant for me now was it?" he sighed dryly. He hadn't even looked over to see who he was actually addressing, but if he had, he might have recognized the Western Countess.. or at least registered that she was somehow familiar, but he didn't, and instead his eyes remained focused on his drink not even seeing anyways. [/scrolly]

[Inkythulhu]

The world seems not the same
Though I know nothing has changed
It's all my state of mind
I can't leave it all behind
I have to stand up to be stronger

Jen jumped slightly at the sound of a voice...So, her muttered words had reached the ears of someone else. The noble woman glanced up to the blond male for a second before her gaze swiftly returned to her drink. It was half gone already...She waved the bar tender down and quietly asked for another when this one ran out. The bar tender gave her a look, but shrugged and went about his business. A soft sigh left Jen as she closed her eyes a moment.

"Aye, it can help...My mom let me have one now and then at home when--..." She cut herself off, bowing her head. No, not in the middle of a bar, NO! Squeezing her eyes closed, she downed the last of her glass in a big gulp like it was a shot. As soon as her glass tapped the counter, it was swiftly replaced with a new one. She coughed, sounding like that last drink hit her on the hard side. Shaking her head and rubbing at her eye, she stared at her drink again.

Somehow, the male next to her seemed familiar...So she forced herself to focus on that. Maybe they'd met before, however briefly? He didn't look like the sort to frequent this kind of bar...Little did she know, she was sitting next to the former Eastern Duke...She slowly looked back to him. "It was not meant for anyone in particular...I guess anyone that would listen...Hey, uhm...This may seem strange or too forward, but, do I know you?" Ack, some of her Countess training was seeming into her speech, making her talk in a slightly odd pattern.

I know I should realize
Time is precious
It is worthwhile
Despite how I feel inside
Have to trust it'll be alright
Have to stand up to be stronger

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv181/SojiRem/lanceRRossiposttable.png);][atrb=width, 397][atrb=height, 297][atrb=style,border:0 red none,b,Table][scrolly:h(235),w(200),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:50px;margin-left:10px;)]As the woman had started to speak about her mother, Lance listened, if a bit halfheartedly. He assumed something was meant by the 'when', but he didn't press it. People often frequented a bar to forget things, and who was he at the moment to press a matter when he himself was trying to forget a past weakness? Why was he still not strong enough to face his family? It made no sense logically, and even with the bombings, he couldn't bring himself to do it. How foolish he was. At the question, Lance slowly turned his eyes to the woman, and indeed, he recognized her... though the last time he had seen her, he had been talking with her parents and not directly her. ".....Your name is... Jennifer is not not?" he asked slowly turning his eyes back to his drink. What would have been surprising to some was not surprising to Lance, and the fact that he had found a countess right next to him, though unexpected, brought no shock. [/scrolly]

[Inkythulhu]

The world seems not the same
Though I know nothing has changed
It's all my state of mind
I can't leave it all behind
I have to stand up to be stronger

Jennifer looked to the former Eastern Duke, blinking slowly. He...Knew her? So it wasn't just a deja vu feeling? "Yes, that's my name. I apologize for not remember your name, though...My bad memory for names and the alcohol is making me a little fuzzy..." She looked down, embarrassed about this. She chewed her lip, trying to think...Think...THINK, WOMAN! "He was the former Duke, in the East. Lance, I believe." ...Thank you, Burk. Jen snapped to look up again, blinking a few times. She often disliked when Burk did that, but this time she was thankful.

"Burkhard has been kind enough to remind me, sorry. Lance, right?" She sounded embarrassed, and nervous... "Heh, I must look a mess...Sorry..." It would seem that apologizing was second nature for her. She pulled some of her hair behind her ear and began playing with the curled ends. Keeping her hand from fidgeting. She sipped from her drink, coughing softly afterward. Ugh...

I know I should realize
Time is precious
It is worthwhile
Despite how I feel inside
Have to trust it'll be alright
Have to stand up to be stronger

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv181/SojiRem/lanceRRossiposttable.png);][atrb=width, 397][atrb=height, 297][atrb=style,border:0 red none,b,Table][scrolly:h(235),w(200),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:50px;margin-left:10px;)]Lance nodded his head once the young woman seemed to register who he was. "Do not fret on it," he answered back slowly looking forwards again. "I'm no better at the moment," he sighed outwards quietly thinking this fact over. He really should leave, least anyone actually recognize him in a way that could lead to trouble. However, he found himself still sitting there. The question as to why the young woman was there came to his mind, yet Lance was careful with his wording on such questions. The last thing he needed to do was sound threatening. "I would have doubted a woman of your position would be in such a place," he stated in his general gentle voice. "What are you doing here, may I ask?" He finally turned his head and looked towards Jennifer without any sort of expression. [/scrolly]

[Inkythulhu]

The world seems not the same
Though I know nothing has changed
It's all my state of mind
I can't leave it all behind
I have to stand up to be stronger

"Heh, thanks..." Jen kept her head bowed, sipping from her drink again. Sweet, sour, and she could still taste the strong alcohol in it. But she couldn't stop herself once she got started...Maybe it was because it made her feel better. Maybe it was because she just didn't care how this looked to someone else. Or maybe it was cause she wanted to drown the feelings of loneliness and grief. Who knew...

Still, Jen looked up again when Lance had asked her his question. She blinked a few times slowly, and answered with, "I could ask you the same, sir." with the straightest face and most deadpan voice imaginable for the woman. Giving off a short, dry laugh, she played with her half full glass a bit before giving her real answer. "I...Came here, because the last time I was here, I was very young. And it was a good memory of my family." She bowed her head again, letting her hair fall like a curtain to hide her eyes.

"I'm here to tempt fate. I've nothing more to lose...Those bombs killed my family, and my soul along with them." She sniffled, rubbing at her eyes. Coughing, she downed the rest of her drink in two gulps before sliding the glass away and resting her arms on the bar counter. And her head on her arms. "Heh, I don't know why I just told you that...Must be the alcohol..."

I know I should realize
Time is precious
It is worthwhile
Despite how I feel inside
Have to trust it'll be alright
Have to stand up to be stronger

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv181/SojiRem/lanceRRossiposttable.png);][atrb=width, 397][atrb=height, 297][atrb=style,border:0 red none,b,Table][scrolly:h(235),w(200),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:50px;margin-left:10px;)]As the words were returned to him, Lance simply shrugged slowly and nodded his head. Indeed, it wouldn't have been his normal place of choice either. As Jennifer began to explain why she was there, he simply listened quietly. She'd lost her family to the bombings... Closing his eyes, Lance sighed quietly. "I see... much like I have lost mine then," was all he answered back with before sipping and finishing his drink. However, he couldn't say he had lost his soul. It was still there, festering in anguish and anger at the rebels who had started it all, yet he had quelled it, controlled it, turned it into goals and plans. "Though... I'm less so, if you lost them all...." he sighed thinking of his children. Why was it he didn't have the strength to simply face them now? What had caused him to lose such a strong spine he had had previously? [/scrolly]

[Inkythulhu]

The world seems not the same
Though I know nothing has changed
It's all my state of mind
I can't leave it all behind
I have to stand up to be stronger

Jen looked up at Lance from her arms, not lifting her head. She felt all fuzzy and warm, and her face was definitely flushed. It was becoming more and more apparent that she'd never had that strong of a drink, nor that much of it. She let a soft sigh out. "Everyone has lost something..." She turned her head away, staring ahead with half lidded eyes. "Yeah, I lost them all...Mother...Father...Both my brother and my baby nephew...I was sick, so they went shopping without me...I wish I'd been with them...Maybe the bombs wouldn't have happened, or maybe I would have died with them...I don't know..."

She sounded almost suicidal. In her mind, Burk was struggling to frantically calm her again, but he was met with a numb wall, unable to breach her mind without force. Jen let out a soft sigh, rubbing her face and sitting upright. "Burk, stop poking my mind. Head hurts enough, thanks..." she muttered, rubbing her neck. She then paused, looking to Lance, blinking slowly. "As far as I know Felis..I mean, Feliciano and Rosa should be alright...Right? I was penpals with their cook, Joel...From what I gather, that wasn't an out day for them, right?" She looked down, chewing her lip. "Excuse me for prying, Sir, but...You should go see them if you haven't already. Cherish your family...You don't know when it'll be the last you'll see them." She choked up by the end of that, coughing and sliding off of her seat. She staggered a bit, leaning on the bar for support...She was a little more far gone than she thought...

I know I should realize
Time is precious
It is worthwhile
Despite how I feel inside
Have to trust it'll be alright
Have to stand up to be stronger

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv181/SojiRem/lanceRRossiposttable.png);][atrb=width, 397][atrb=height, 297][atrb=style,border:0 red none,b,Table][scrolly:h(235),w(200),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:50px;margin-left:10px;)]As Jennifer talked, Lance simply listened. It seemed the young woman had lost her entire family. He oddly recognized the last statement as one he had said before. If he had been at home when the fire had taken the castle, maybe he would have been able to prevent it... or maybe he could have just died with his wife... However, these maybes were all they were. There was no way to rewrite the past, and sadly Lance knew this too well. He would have said something consoling, had not the young woman changed the conversation. Ah, his second eldest and his youngest... "From what I've learned, they've been fine..." he sighed thinking of what else he had learned about his family. Apparently, his eldest had come home at some point as well as one of his middle children. However, he had still lost children and his wife, and that was not going to change. At Jennifer's words on seeing his family, Lance's eyes widened before slowly relaxing again as he sighed. He didn't answer back, but he understood. He should have been home by now, but... What kind of father abandons his own family and expects to return? How could he explain that he'd thought he'd lost them all for so long and then rushed home when he found out something different? Jennifer's sudden staggering causing Lance to tense, and he turned and set a hand on her shoulder looking at her carefully. "The drink doesn't suit someone so young... you should probably find at least a backed chair," he said looking then around the room for some sort of chair with arms and the like. [/scrolly]

[Inkythulhu]

The world seems not the same
Though I know nothing has changed
It's all my state of mind
I can't leave it all behind
I have to stand up to be stronger

Jen rubbed her head, breathing slowly. The room was spinning and it was making her dizzy. "Never had anything that strong before...I think that's what Daddy used to call a 'knock you on your butt' drink..." She leaned on the bar, looking back to Lance but seeming to have a hard time focusing. She sniffed, a single tear rolling down her cheek even though the numbness of alcohol had finally made her stop caring. "I really must apologize for my display. The last thing you prolly want to see is a drunken countess lamenting over her loss and pain." She offered a weak smile and a dry chuckle.

Slowly, Jen tried to walk, but wound up staggering a bit and leaning heavily on the chair she'd been sitting on. The seat spun a bit from the uneven pressure, making her look even more unsteady. She closed her eyes, trying to make the room stop spinning. "Too much...Ugh..." She looked about as stable as a tree ready to fall after someone had hacked at it a good while. Deep down, she wanted to call out one of her Pokemon to help her, but in her current state of drunken, stubborn stupidity, she refused to do such a thing. One of her "I can do this!" moments.

I know I should realize
Time is precious
It is worthwhile
Despite how I feel inside
Have to trust it'll be alright
Have to stand up to be stronger

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv181/SojiRem/lanceRRossiposttable.png);][atrb=width, 397][atrb=height, 297][atrb=style,border:0 black none,b,Table][scrolly:h(235),w(200),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:50px;margin-left:10px;)]Sighing softly, Lance watched Jennifer but didn't speak was she made to walk. Slowly closing his eyes, he debated what to do for a few seconds before slowly standing up. He had had a bit of the drink in question, but he was never one to get himself drunk. Because of this, he was better off walking. Taking Jennifer by the shoulder, Lance steadied her. "You should head home," he stated flatly if not actually void of emotion. It was neither really a request nor an order but somewhere in the middle. "You're too young and shouldn't spoil your reputation in such a manner..." [/scrolly]

[Inkythulhu]

The world seems not the same
Though I know nothing has changed
It's all my state of mind
I can't leave it all behind
I have to stand up to be stronger

"I'm not going home...I have a hotel I'll return to...Home is a tomb now." Even when drunk, Jen always had an artistic heart...If a little morbid. Still, she was in a morbid mood. She leaned into Lance's hand, before shaking her head and taking a few more wobbly steps. She looked around herself...And despite the room's spinning, she didn't see anyone watching. For the first time in a very long time...She felt like no one was watching what she did, how she acted and looked. She snorted softly, hanging her head a moment. "Figures..."

Taking another small step, she looked like she was heading for the door, albeit at a slow pace. She was in no rush..."I'm 20; an adult. Not that young, by today's standards." She gave a soft sigh, a wry smile on her lips. "And I have no reputation to spoil. I was a recluse, even for a noble. You can count on one hand how many functions I went to and actually stayed the whole night." She waved a nonchalant hand, starting to get the hang of walking like this. Thank God she wasn't wearing heels! "Just another drop in the bucket, I am. Of little consequence. Maybe putting myself out there is just what I need." Was that...A smirk? Oh, that can't be good.

I know I should realize
Time is precious
It is worthwhile
Despite how I feel inside
Have to trust it'll be alright
Have to stand up to be stronger

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv181/SojiRem/lanceRRossiposttable.png);][atrb=width, 397][atrb=height, 297][atrb=style,border:0 black none,b,Table][scrolly:h(235),w(200),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:50px;margin-left:10px;)]Lance frowned stiffly as Jennifer explained her situation more, yet at her comment on age, he half smirked. "Then I am just getting old," he sighed thinking how the years had passed. He hadn't even realized it, yet the years had peeled away so quickly....He simply walked with her, keeping her balance as he did so. "You shouldn't talk about yourself in that way," he began. "You have a purpose ... especially now. You must be stronger to rise to the challenges that will come." There he stopped a moment. It felt worse saying it than he had imagined it would, to be honest. He was saying 'become stronger' when he wasn't strong enough to simply face his children. There was something wrong with that, and he knew it. However, he would figure that out later.... [/scrolly]

[Inkythulhu]

The world seems not the same
Though I know nothing has changed
It's all my state of mind
I can't leave it all behind
I have to stand up to be stronger

Jen didn't want to admit it, but she was thankful for Lance's hand to stabilize her. Else she surely would have fallen and most definitely made a fool of herself. Not like she wasn't doing that already, but that would have been mortifying. She gave a bark or a dry laugh at the first part. "I've always talked like that about myself, Sir. I don't think it's going to change any time soon." She looked down a moment before looking back up, face deadpan, save for the flush to her cheeks. "If I have a purpose...Where these trials and losses placed before me to test me?" It was a strangely somber thing for her to say so suddenly, but her mind couldn't stop her thoughts before they became speech anymore.

I know I should realize
Time is precious
It is worthwhile
Despite how I feel inside
Have to trust it'll be alright
Have to stand up to be stronger

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv181/SojiRem/lanceRRossiposttable.png);][atrb=width, 397][atrb=height, 297][atrb=style,border:0 black none,b,Table][scrolly:h(235),w(200),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:50px;margin-left:10px;)]Lance sighed at Jennifer's first answer, and he shook his head slowly as he continued to walk with her. At the question, he looked down at her and was quiet for nearly twenty seconds before he found the exact words he wanted to say. "I cannot determine what the Everlasting is doing," he answered back looking away from her and towards the door that wasn't far off now. "But if that is the case, then you have a duty to yourself to grow above what has happened.... least you leave yourself with nothing......In the words of Nietzsche 'What doesn't kill me makes me stronger'. " [/scrolly]

[Inkythulhu]

The world seems not the same
Though I know nothing has changed
It's all my state of mind
I can't leave it all behind
I have to stand up to be stronger

Jen bowed her head, a wry smile on her lips. "It seems like such an impossible thing. I've never been without my family...They were always there, no matter what happened. Were it not for them, I would not have my closest friend." She was, of course, referring to Burk. In her mind, Burk seemed to warm with the affection in which she referred to him. "Thank you..." I may be depressed, but I'm not going to deny the truth.

She paused a moment, blinking. "Hmm..." When she resumed walking, she coughed, then laughed. "It may be just the drinks going to my head, but I think my lacking of anything to hold me back, nothing to lose so to speak, has just given me the most insane idea ever..." Oh dear lord. We're doomed.

I know I should realize
Time is precious
It is worthwhile
Despite how I feel inside
Have to trust it'll be alright
Have to stand up to be stronger

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv181/SojiRem/lanceRRossiposttable.png);][atrb=width, 397][atrb=height, 297][atrb=style,border:0 black none,b,Table][scrolly:h(235),w(200),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:50px;margin-left:10px;)]Her closest friend? The way that Jennifer had said this only served to give Lance two possibilities: either a pokemon or some sort of servant... He would have thought on this more had not Jennifer's next words caught him a bit off guard. An idea? An inquisitive eye stared at the woman, and after a moment, he opened his mouth. "Care to tell what you have thought of?" he asked. If she didn't and it was a private matter, then that was fine. However, the fact that she had stated that she had a thought out loud seemed to step the ideathat she was about to stare. He continued to walk and simply waited to see what would be said. [/scrolly]

[Inkythulhu]

The world seems not the same
Though I know nothing has changed
It's all my state of mind
I can't leave it all behind
I have to stand up to be stronger

Jen laughed, almost in a mad way but still softly and dryly. It was like she was thinking "why didn't I think of this SOONER?". Choking slightly on a chuckle, she glanced to Lance. "You'll think I'm mad or a fool or both...But I just might be stupid enough to pull it off. I have but one place to go, one place for a Countess that has lost all but her social standing." In her mind, Burk was trying to shut her up before she shot her fool mouth off. But it was no use. She was drunk and flat out didn't care any more. As it would seem, alcohol made her loose of the mouth and mind, making her a rather random person to be around.

"Riptide Castle." she stated, eying the portrait of it that hung over the door. Oh lordy, help us all...

I know I should realize
Time is precious
It is worthwhile
Despite how I feel inside
Have to trust it'll be alright
Have to stand up to be stronger

[Jay]

[atrb=style,background-image:url(http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv181/SojiRem/lanceRRossiposttable.png);][atrb=width, 397][atrb=height, 297][atrb=style,border:0 black none,b,Table][scrolly:h(235),w(200),sy,as(padding:4px 0px 5px;margin-top:50px;margin-left:10px;)]Lance's expression shifted, and his eyebrow raised. He had heard of Marcella's disappearance and had felt sad not for the girl herself but for her parents whom he had known and worked with for a time back when the kingdom was stable. However, what Jennifer was suggesting was something he couldn't begin to find words for, at least initially. It was true that the West needed to be stabilized, somehow, especially in the light of the attacks on the capital. Stability needed to be issued out... But for this woman who had just lost everything... The worry that she wouldn't be able to take up the situation was not bothered him. Instead, it was what she could possibly do with the power that worried him. If one was ruled by his emotions, he could do nothing but destroy.... "You mean to take over," he stated dryly. They were on the streets now, and it was a bit freer than in the confines of a room where one could not tell who was listening in. However, it was still a subject best to be had away from the public eye. Despite this... It was late, and Jennifer had already bought it up.... "What would you do?" he asked. [/scrolly]