014 Bushels ❦ [Action for Mahogany]

[buckyouup]

[Applejack has been quiet for the last few days. Hardly in the mood to talk, the southerner has been taking advantage of the warmer weather to get in some training. Never wanting to sit still, she takes every opportunity to run or fight or do something, but outside of her pokemon, she insists on being alone. She has to keep herself busy. So she doesn't think. So she isn't reminded.

One year. One whole year. And that's just the time she remembers. That's not counting the time she's been here before. She hasn't seen her family, her home, her orchard, in a year. She knows that time works strange here, that for her, time isn't moving back home, but that doesn't quite translate to her emotions. To her, she's spent a whole year of her life chasing strange animals while her family and her farm is without her. Stuck in some strange land, located who knows how far away from home. If she was never brought here, what would she have experienced at home? Would this year's haul be a good one? Did Apple Bloom get her cutie mark? She didn't want to think about it. She didn't want to think at all.

If you happen to be wandering in a secluded part of town, you may notice Applejack training. She may be running laps, or doing sit-ups, or training her pokemon, but one thing is instantly noticeable: she looks like shit. Her clothes are torn and her body is dirty and covered in scrapes and bruises. She looks like she hasn't slept in days. She doesn't want to. She dreams of home.]

Comments

[buckyouup]

R-right. 'Course it is...

[She looks out the window. When did it get so dark out?]

[foolishwren]

_{[.... :I]}

When was the last time you slept?

[buckyouup]

...What day is it?

[foolishwren]

<sub>[... Yeah, you know what, AJ?]

[Heather's just going to stop pedaling and stare at you in total silence.]</sub>

[buckyouup]

...That's a perfectly reasonable question, Sugarcube.

[foolishwren]

It's the twelfth.

Did you sleep at all last night?

[buckyouup]

Not... really, no.

[foolishwren]

Applejack.

Are you friggin' serious.

[buckyouup]

It just... wasn't somethin' I was thinkin' 'bout.

[foolishwren]

Well, maybe you should think about it now.

JEEZ, AJ, you wanna hurt yourself?

[buckyouup]

'Course I don't! I ain't somepony that's gonna let a bad night's sleep get in my way.

[foolishwren]

And your definition of 'getting in the way' is?

_{[Because she sees you leanin' on a wall there, not working out.]}

[sitdownbecider]

I've been trainin' for three days. I'm gettin' stronger, an' I ain't gonna let no sleep get in th'way.

[foolishwren]

Look, I'm the last person to be lecturing people on how to train. But there's a reason people need sleep, and it's not just because Mother Nature decided 'Hey. Know what'd piss off some workaholics?'

_{[CHECK URSELF B4 U WRECK URSELF, APPLEJACK]}

[buckyouup]

I'll sleep when I'm done fightin' my way home.

[foolishwren]

_{[She huffs out a sigh and gets off the bike.]}

Then let's head back to the hotel already so you can get some sleep, jeez.

_{[... Yeah guess who completely misinterpreted what AJ meant as 'home'.]}

[buckyouup]

I don't mean a hotel, Sugarcube. I'm goin' home.

[foolishwren]

<sub>[... oh.]

[Immediately, Heather's expression becomes a little bit more guarded. Not because she expects to be fielding any particular aggression from AJ, but because this... is slightly more sensitive territory than she anticipated.]</sub>

... AJ, you know we can't control when or if we go home.

That's just not how this place works.

[buckyouup]

There's gotta be a way. I'll become so strong that I can whup whatever or whoever is keepin' us here.

[foolishwren]

... I used to think the same thing.

[buckyouup]

Then help me, Sugarcube. I'll find a way t'get us all out of here.

[foolishwren]

_{[Heather sighs and gives Applejack a long look before sliding down off the bike.]}

That's the thing, AJ. I don't want to get out of here. Not anymore. This is home now.

Not just because I can't go back-- because I WON'T go back. Unless I'm dragged kicking and screaming.

But that's beside the issue.

No amount of training is gonna get you what you want. Not this kind of want. _{[She pauses to swallow because, really, she's not one to talk. She might not be trying to get HOME but she's just as guilty of the sort of faulty 'If I get stronger the bad things won't happen' logic Applejack is operating under. But this isn't really the best time for her to start second-guessing whether or not this makes her a hypocrite.]}

And neither will not letting yourself sleep, unless hallucinating that you've gone home is what you're after.

[buckyouup]

[Sigh.]

At this rate? Even that'd be an improvement.

[foolishwren]

You know, there's ways to induce hallucinations that don't involve wandering around town in the cold at night while sleep deprived.

_{[DON'T WORRY SHE'S NOT GOING TO TRY AND GET APPLEJACK INTO DRUGS she's just saying.]}

[buckyouup]

I know that.

[She huffs. Really, Heather, what kind of girl do you take her for?]

I just... haven't seen my family in a year, now.