foolishwren | 105. FOURTH WALL POST [Action for Saffron City, anywhere in Saffron City! Video's okay too]

[Among all the chaos, there's another guest approaching -- his presence shouldn't be a surprise, of course, seeing as he's been in this city for months, but... if one looks closely, they may notice some things are different about him today. Maybe it's a change in wardrobe, jewelry, maybe he appears a bit taller all of sudden-- okay, that last one's a lie. One thing for sure, though -- the atmosphere surrounding Crow has changed noticeably, and for once in his life he doesn't have an aura of trouble around him.]

Now that's a face I haven't seen in a while.

[... He's probably not talking about Cujo, though.]

_{[She looks up at the familiar voice.]

[... And at first she's not totally sure what she's seeing. Because it doesn't really add up with what he just said. What does he mean, in awhile? SHE JUST SAW HIM A FEW HOURS AGO.]

[.. Or... wait.]}

... Crow?

[Crow chuckles a bit, looking rather amused with her questioning tone.]

Glad you still remember it!

[He walks over to her side and pets Cujo on the head-- or, well, one half of it. Kind of gross, but at least he doesn't seem too bothered by it.]

Although... judging by this guy here, I'm gonna take a wild guess it's one of the crazy weekend things, so maybe it hasn't been all that long for you.

[He makes a pause, looking back to her.]

Would explain why you haven't changed one a bit.

_{[She slowly nods as he goes to give her ZOMBIE DOG some affection (therefore proving that he has more balls than MOST PEOPLE WHO HAVE MET HIM THIS WAY).]}

... I, uh...

Yeah.

I saw you this morning.

... When was the last time you saw me?

[Hey, zombie dogs need love, too. Doesn't change the fact he's being either brave or completely out of his mind... though knowing him, it's probably a little of both.]

Eight years and a half, give or take.

... So you're saying I'm still here, huh?

[He says that like it's something as trivial as weather. Apparently there's a younger version of me running around at the same time? HAPPENS EVERY OTHER DAY, REALLY.]

... Eight years?

_{[... S-so he's what, almost thirty? DAM CRO U OLD.]

[She actually looks rather taken aback by it. Not quite the cool cucumber (... or angry red pepper, to use a produce-related metaphor for the OTHER way she tends to react to things) she normally is.]}

I--... yeah, you're still here...

_{[But her mind is kind of racing. IF CROW'S FROM THE FUTURE.... THAT MUST MEAN HE GOES HOME AT SOME POINT. ..... :(]}

[He prefers the term "experienced", thank you very much.

Crow watches her reaction without saying anything for a moment before finally letting out a soft chuckle.]

Don't look so surprised; what, you didn't think I'd made it to this age?

[It's something he wouldn't put past himself with all the shit he's done when he was younger, really...]

Wh-- no, that's not what--

... I mean...

... When ... do you go home?

[... Ah, that. Figures she'd ask -- Crow can't really blame her, and if they switched places, he'd probably do the same.

Still.]

... You really wanna know?

_{[That sort of shuts her up... but for a second she really looks conflicted about it.]

[... She's lost so many people...]}

... I guess I don't...

[Crow shrugs lightly in response. He doesn't really mind either way, so he'll be leaving it up to her.]

As you wish.

[The duelist finally moves away from the ROTTING MONSTER and settles down next to Heather.]

... I've missed you, you know.

_{[She looks over to him as he sits down. It's... weird as hell to see him as an adult.]

[... Well, technically, of course, they're both ALREADY adults, but they're still in that hazy gap between the teenage years and real adulthood. She's always seen him as "another kid", in any case.]}

... I'd ... say the same to you, but...

_{[A weak laugh, because that 'I just saw you this morning' thing is still a thing.]}

... I guess I should be flattered... to be missed and stuff.

[Oh, he knows. Obviously, eight years ago he would have argued how HE'S TOTALLY AN ADULT WHAT'CHU TALKIN' 'BOUT, but there's a difference between being of age and being an actual adult. Something not many kids are willing to admit, and he sure was one of them.

Crow responds with a laugh of his own, though his probably comes off far more relaxed than hers.]

I know, I know... You'll be seeing me again by the end of the day.

[He didn't mean it as a compliment per say, but hey, she's free to take it as such. That works just fine.]

I'll have you know you're pretty easy to miss.

[As in, to feel sad when she's not around, not fail to notice her. That's for sure.]

... Though I guess I should apologize in advance for having vanished so suddenly on you.

[Weird tense structure aside, it sounds like a genuine apology.]

_{[Heather shakes her head.]}

Don't.

I know it's not your fault.

_{[Of course she's bitter-- just a little-- at everyone who'd disappeared. It's one of those irrational human emotions you couldn't really help. But she knows better than to think it's justified.]

[But all the same, she says it stiffly, not quite facing him.]}

'Course it isn't.

[Even Crow isn't arrogant to believe he could decide whether to stay or go, but since he knows what losing a friend means, he can't really blame her if she's mad at him later, no matter how irrational it would be.]

But I've got a hunch you might feel that way when it comes to it.

That's how it usually goes, isn't it?

_{[She falls silent at that, because he's sort of right. He's seen how she reacts to other people disappearing.]}

[He places his hand on her head and ruffles her hair gently with a smile.]

Hey, what's with the long face? You said yourself that I'm still here.

_{[--GRAHHH CROW WHAT'RE YOU DOING! She ducks out from under his hand automatically, as is per usual for headstrong kids dealing with excessively cheerful older people.]}

Well-- YEAH, but... I'm just gonna lose you like everybody else, aren't I?!

I'm supposed to be happy about that?!

[Her reaction makes him chuckle a bit. It wasn't exactly unexpected, but amusing nonetheless.]

Dunno, depends how you look at it.

I mean, I'm pretty sure I was a pain in the ass sometimes, so...

[Whether it's an attempt at a joke or his way of telling her to always look on the bright side of life is debatable.

Might as well be both.]

_{[She grouses a little as she reaches up to straighten her hair out, mumbling--]}

... Yeah, actually, you ARE a pain in the ass...

_{[But a pain in the ass that she likes having around. :c]}

[... That's a futile attempt, Heather. Give it up.]

See? It won't be that bad!

[... That is probably the least helpful thing to say in this situation, honestly.]

Now cheer up. I've told you before -- or if I haven't yet then I will tell you at some point, I don't know for sure -- that I don't like it when you're all grumpy like that.

_{[Yeah, it pretty much is. She lets out a surly huff.]}

I'm practically always grumpy like this, what're you talkin' about...

Really now? That's news to me.

[He reaches out to poke her cheek lightly.]

I seem to recall you being happier than this!

_{[Crow do you wanna keep that finger >8I]}

If you recall correctly... things are kinda rough right now.

[He does stop poking her, but it's more due to what she says rather than being afraid of potential loss of his finger.]

Aren't they ever.

[With that, Crow looks away from her and up to the sky, remaining silent for a moment before speaking up again.]

Look, I can't promise you things will get better instantly, and I'd lie if I said there won't be rough times later on, too. That's how life works, and you probably know it very well by now.

But you should always remember there's a bright future ahead of you.

105. FOURTH WALL POST [Action for Saffron City, anywhere in Saffron City! Video's okay too]

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SOB this thread

I'd say I'm sorry but I'm not :(

;-; DAMMIT LY

CAN'T HELP IT

this is why we can't have nice things

tough luck

>:'(

don't give me that look :(

>8'(!!!!!!!!!!!

that's even worse 8(

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