foolishwren | 031. Action (for those in Azalea) (forward-dated to Wednesday late afternoon)

_{[It's cold out.]}

[It's actually really cold out.]

[Without the wind, the day would be pleasant-- even a little toasty, if the sun hit your back just right.]

[But with the harsh gusts whipping the olive-green (... but getting oranger by the day) foliage over and around Azalea into a frenzy, it's about as easy to keep that heat as it would be to try and cause a tornado by running around in circles really fast. Needless to say, it's one of those autumn days that takes 'crisp' and turns it into 'Maybe today would be a good day to stay inside on the couch and watch cartoons.']

[Only a fool or somebody very unfortunate would be outdoors today without a coat.]

[Depending on how you looked at it, Heather Mason falls into both those categories.]

[Gravelly dirt crunches under boots as-- ... um... something that only sort-of resembles Heather-- but with far more dirt and filth and blue-black patches and dead leaves and congealed blood-- comes shambling through the trees and onto the turf of Azalea Town like some sort of shaggy forest creature. Both eyes are blackened, one refusing to open at all. Knees torn up and scabbed like the aftermath of the most epic five-year-old bicycle crash in history. Same with her palms. Split, chapped lips, cuts and scrapes aplenty, and to top it all off, her hair hardly looks blond anymore, though whether it's all the leaves stuck in it or the fact that her black roots have started to take over like weeds is pretty hard to say.]

[She's got one arm wrapped around herself-- and the other hand has its fingers twined deeply in the matted, grungy mane of the rust-colored, exhausted-looking animal that pads along beside her, keeping his side firmly pressed against her leg. Said animal's ears lift, along with his snout, as he snuffles excitedly at the air.]

[Smoke! Lots of smoke!]

[Swiping a hand under her nose, Heather shuffles to a halt and squints ahead at the quaint little buildings, all nestled together. ... Okay... they weren't shimmering or vanishing after a few minutes.... that meant they... they had to be real.]

... 'ther m'seeing things or we made it.

_{[Aaaand then she winces. Even in her own skull, her voice sounded froglike and croopy. Not good. Not a good sign at all. What I wouldn't give right now for a hot drink--]}

[There's a great, whistling rush and a gust of wind goes whipping past them, forcing Heather to buckle her knees and hunch over, rubbing her bare shoulders and clenching her teeth to stop them from exploding into spasms of chattering. It was cold enough all on its own, but in this state, she felt like it was blowing clean through her as though her body was tissue paper.]

[And sleeves. A hot drink and sleeves. Those would be really, really nice. Pants, too.]

[A sharp whine and the touch of a wet pink tongue on her hand brings her back to the present and she looks down at the beseeching brown eyes staring up at her, managing something resembling a smile, despite herself.]

C'mon, Cooj...

_{[Stifling a nasty cough with one hand, she grabs his mane again with the other and the two set off to totter on into the town. Although she'd never been there before, it was a sight for sore eyes after everything she'd been through the past two weeks.]}

_{[ooc: Heather does not know there's a warrant out for her arrest yet on account of her 'Gear being absolutely borked. 8I; So she'll be pretty... out of it and confused if someone brings this up to her.]}

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_{[Clearly, Rise is magical.]

[Heather mumbles a thank you as she takes it and gingerly starts to use it (ow ow ow), but then stops, her eye snapping back open.]}

Wait-- what? Whahoat? _[COUGH.] Police? Why the fuck're the-- ... I didn't do anything!

_{[It's not as though she hadn't spent a lot of her teen years doing one arrest-worthy thing or another, and she'd run from badges at LEAST two or three times, but ... she hadn't done anything HERE!]}

I was-- ... I was gone!

When? [ Rise blinks, somewhat uncertain. It's true that she couldn't reach Heather, but there had at least been a signal, unlike when Yosuke disappeared. ] I heard you screaming something about fire a little over a week ago... all I know from the reports was something about having a weapon and property damage... maybe assault, too.

_{[Heather falls silent for a moment, just... staring blankly as the cogs grind away in her head.]}

... I was-- ... I dunno how long, but I was-- ... I was home.

_{[... wow what kind of home must THIS kid have if she 'returns' from it looking like THIS?]}

And there was-- ... wait, you heard me?

_{[Rise has probably never seen-- or heard-- Heather like this before. Her voice just sounds... lost.]}

[ she is beginning to wonder, though she's definitely beyond concerned now. Out of girly instinct, she reaches out to rest a hand on Heather's shoulder. ]

Yeah, you and Cujo. I left you a message, but I never heard back from you.

... We can figure this out later, though. What's important now is getting you in without anyone recognizing you.

_{[Upon hearing his name, Cujo started panting and butted his head affectionately against Rise's knee. He looked more recognizeable than Heather did, but he was no pedigree dog show winner, himself.]}

I... I'm sorry, I didn't hear-- .... I thought I'd never-- ... n-never mind, later... _{[The worst part of being back in Silent Hill had been the cold certainty that she would never see any of her friends again. That she'd lost them without even appreciating them. Just like Dad.]}

I-- ... I don't wanna be arrested, whatever the hell they want me for... W-where should I go?

_{[ooc: Otacon is more or less swooping Heather off to his little camp in the woods where she can be a fugitive good and proper-- Rise is obviously welcome to come too! ... XD THEY CAN ALSO -TRY- TO GET HEATHER PAST THE INNKEEPER, THAT MIGHT PROVE TO BE INTERESTING. IF NOT SUCCESSFUL.]}

[ Rise automatically reaches down to rub Cujo's ears, smiling weakly down at the Growlithe. He's seen better days, poor thing. ]

I guess there's always the forest, but... at the very least, I can get you some warmer clothes. And get Cujo looked at. [ never mind they will probably think Rise ABUSED him. ]

((ooc: Rise doesn't mind hanging out with them in the woods for a bit! Should she threadhop or log or-- I'm up for anything. XD))

_{[Cujo whimpers happily and immediately just sort of... plants his whole body against her and LEEAAAAAANS. He has indeed seen better days... days in which he didn't look like he'd been severely beaten with the Ugly Stick.]}

Forest... god, I've seen more'n enough of the forest lately... _{[But... she'd rather camp than get chucked in a cell.]} ... Could you? He's... been such a good sport, but... all my supplies are just gone, I haven't been able to do much for him...

_{[ooc: One log comin' right up!]}

[ She keeps up the petting, then-- though she does have to readjust her balance to keep from toppling over. ]

Definitely. I'll make sure they take good care of him. [ hey, if she can do something, she'll do it. ] Give me just a few minutes, okay? I'll run him in now and find you a jacket.

Thanks, Rise...

_{[ooc: http://community.livejournal.com/route_1065/42942.html#cutid1 thar she blows]}

Edited 2010-09-29 03:36 (UTC)

We're friends, remember? No thanks necessary.

((ooc: Log ahoy! Is it okay if Rise enters after healing Cujo?))

_{[Heather doesn't answer to that, but she does get the first really genuine smile she's had in a loooong time. The kind that crinkles up under the eyes.]

[More than anything else... she's glad to see her friends again. ... And this time, she won't screw it up.]

[ooc: Sure! XD And possibly getting the stinkeye from Nurse Joy over his state.]}

031. Action (for those in Azalea) (forward-dated to Wednesday late afternoon)

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