48. Action (for Goldenrod)

[foolishwren]

<sub>[Well, they say that the holiday spirit shows up in the most unusual of places...]

[The dogtags around Heather's neck jingle and click against her round locket as she shoved boxes of Revives as far back into the shelves as she could manage.]

[Ugh, stocking shelves, stocking shelves, stocking shelves. It's not that she hasn't done her Christmas shopping yet-- she's gotten most of it done, actually. But there's still just a liiiiittle left, and either way, it didn't make being stuck at work on the 23rd any nicer, either.]

[Not to mention, now that there's finally some nice weather, she'd much rather be ou--]</sub>

YOU. TEMP.

<sub>[OH GOD WHY.]

[Heather freezes, eyes wide, and turns sloooowly around.]</sub>

.... ye-eeesss?

GET OUT. YOU HAVE THE DAY OFF.

... The day off?

<sub>[Heather's voice sounds incredulous. No-- beyond incredulous. She sounds like someone just told her-- and then backed it up with irrefutable evidence via mathematics, experimental studies, and the hand of God coming down from the sky and saying DUDE, THEY ARE SO CORRECT-- that mankind actually originated from a cosmic mishap involving Pee Wee Herman, a time machine, two oranges, and a bowl of dead sea monkeys.]

[That's how incredulous her voice sounds.]</sub>

You're giving me the day off?


DON'T YOU LOOK ALL SURPRISED! I'LL HAVE YOU KNOW THAT I AM A VERY GRACIOUS WOMAN!!

... Right.

DON'T GET USED TO IT. IT IS JUST IN THE SPIRIT OF THE HOLIDAY. BACK IN MY DAY, WE DIDN'T EVEN HAVE HOLIDAYS.


... Uh... well... thanks, ma'am--


AND YOU'D BETTER BE BACK HERE AT THE CRACK OF DAWN ON THE 27TH. I CAN'T DO ALL THE WORK AROUND HERE YOU KNOW.

_{[A pause.]}

.... AND TAKE CARE OF YOUR HANDS. HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

_{[And with that little mind-screw out of the way, the supervisor Psycho Bitchmonster of Death turns away and skulks malevolently off down the aisle.]}

... well, that was surreal, but...


<sub>[LIKE HELL SHE'S GONNA STICK AROUND HERE! Goldenrod City, look out. Heather is gonna go out and appreciate some SNOW, dammit. Shoving the rest of the boxes hastily into what little space was left on the shelf, Heather climbs down from the ladder and just-- ... DASHES.]

[Tugging a Pokeball out of her pocket, she lets Cujo out (because she'd more or less been expressly forbidden from having him out with her while she worked, because apparently it was bad marketing for Growlithes to try and eat the toothpaste display, but at the same time, ever since the Glitch Incident, she wasn't too keen on leaving him in her room while she worked...).]

[As usual, the Growlithe instantly bounds alongside her, tongue flapping out of his mouth happily as he frolics. OH BOY, WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO TODAY.]</sub>

C'mon, Cooj, let's head to that Underground place-- I can finish grabbing gifts for people and we can get some of those hot candy chestnut things that are probably bad for you but that I let you have anyway because I'm a terrible own-- .... HEY! W- ... where're you going?!

_{[In the middle of listening raptly to Heather's barely-started monologue, Cujo had just... suddenly turned tail in a flurry of creamy fur and gone TEARING off in the opposite direction, leaving Heather with no audience except for his rapidly-disappearing hind end.]}

...


H-HEY! Get-- get BACK here, you mutt--!!

<sub>[SHIT SHIT SHIT IF HE DESTROYED SOMETHING SHE PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE GETTING THE DAY OFF ANYMORE BECAUSE SHE'D BE IN HUGE TROUBLE SHIT FUCK CRAP.]

[Cursing, Heather THROWS herself after the dog, narrowly dodging several customers and more than a few coworkers carrying heavy displays. A tallish construction worker is forced to do a near-pirouette just to avoid clocking her on the head with one of the ladders he's carrying. Heather shouts apologetically over her shoulder as she passes.]</sub>

SORRY, SHAWN.

_{[Cujo, meanwhile, is on a MISSION. For what? Heather has no idea. But SOMETHING. Because she's fairly sure she has NEVER seen him run with this kind of determination before, EVER. She's only just barely staying on his trail-- he's running too fast for her to catch up with. Occasionally she gets glimpses of him up ahead, but JEEZ is it hard to struggle through this crow-- ... wait. Wait. Oh shit, he's-- ... is he going for that guy with the--....?]}

Cooj, NO!

<sub>[Too late, the man carrying a large crate marked 'DELICATE CONTENTS' turns. Too late, the expression of abject horror appears on his face. Too late, he opens his mouth to cry out.]

[And then eighty pounds or so of excited dog careens into him, knocking him, several displays, and the contents of the crate all over the place.]

[Heather comes skidding to a halt in front of the wreckage, face frozen in a mildly horrified grimace.]

[MISTLETOE.]

[MISTLETOE EVERYWHERE.]

[And in the middle of the enormous pile that spilled out of the crate is Cujo, rolling around on his back and making loud snorfle noises, ears splayed out on either side of his head like dumb-looking little wings. His tail is casting sprigs of the spiky-leafed little plant everywhere with each enthusiastic wag.]</sub>

... Cujo.

_{[The Growlithe rolls over and looks up at Heather happily, tongue lolling out of his mouth. Like this picture except with mistletoe and a Growlithe.]}

Cujo-- you are-- you friggin'--



WHAT IS THAT RACKET OVER THERE!?


...S-shit!

_{[Heather urgently reaches down to grab the dog with some difficulty around his pudgy middle and haul him out of the pile.]}

We gotta get outta h-- ACK! Dammit, STOP! Cujo, STOP, you idiot! Come ON!

<sub>[Attempting to shove him back down and stop him from CLIMBING her to try and eat her hair in his spastic joy, Heather turned and ran from the scene of the crime, with a mistletoe-covered Cujo in tow.]

[... And if she'd taken a moment to stop and assess the situation better, she might have noticed that in the struggle, a fairly sizeable sprig of mistletoe was stuck right on top of her head.]

[Oops.]





[ooc: Heather will be running around town doing various Heather things like shopping for gifts, sticking it to the man, and frightening small children. Aaaand unless someone points it out to her... she's probably not gonna realize she's got the kissing equivalent of a 'KICK ME' sign. Feel free to encounter her anywhere in the city! Cujo will also be happy to dispense ~*~DOGGY KISSES~*~ to anyone too close to any of that mistletoe.]

[HAVE FUN.]</sub>

Comments

[action] P-P-PLACEHOLDER WHILE I DRAW YOUR COMIC AND FINISH OTHER FILLS

[puzzling]

[Fa lalalala~ The Professor is just finishing some last minute Christmas shipping around Goldenrod. He has to head back to Violet City later tonight after all. He's just walking out of the Goldenrod department store with his Vulpix and Growlithe with a bag of supplies and what's the racket going on behind him? Sounds like someone screaming-- WHOA WHAT JUST DARTED PAST HIM WAIT IS THAT MISS MASON OH GOD DID SHE GET INTO TROUBLE AGAIN PLEASE SAY NO]

Miss Mason--?!

[action] 8DDDDD

[foolishwren]

<sub>[Do you REALLY have to ask, Professor? This IS Heather we're talking about.]

[The girl and mistletoe-covered dog in question come skidding to a sheepish halt in front of the Proff'. Or at least it's sheepish on Heather's part. Cujo just looks happy as a clam.]</sub>

Proff'!

Uh-- if someone comes looking for me, say you haven't seen me, all right?!

_{[And why no, she doesn't notice that mistletoe on top of her head.]}

[action] ...how did i tag with the wrong journal? orz

[puzzling]

[Hey, the Professor still has utmost confidence that she is a kind and well behaved girl...even if she does destroy things for fun...and has a potty mouth...and is insane-- alright, you win.]

What is all the ruckus? Has something happened back there?

[...]

...Does that mistletoe on top of your head have to do anything with it?

[action] lmao Heather your life sucks.

[miniworth]

[WATCHING WHAT JUST HAPPENED AND HOLDING PIP TIGHTER AGAINST HIS CHEST.]


........Are you all right, Miss Heather?

[action] yes it does

[foolishwren]

YEAH. TOTALLY.

Uh.

If a freaky old lady with a mustache comes around looking for me, just say you saw me leaving the store like five minutes ago, okay?

[action]

[miniworth]

Eh. Uh...

Um... okay.

[A pause.]

.... There's something on your head.

[action]

[foolishwren]

_{[But-- she's already dashing off.]}

N-no time to talk, sorry!

_{[... Oh Heather. You should listen to Edgey.]}

[action]

[cheapblusuits.livejournal.com]

[You're not the only one running around doing last minute Christmas shopping, Heather!

...and who also has a few out of control Pokémon of their own to contend with.

Like, say, a giant ball of yellow fluff CAREENING THROUGH THE SNOW. With a very frantic looking Phoenix chasing after it.]

M-Mia! Get back here!

Maaaaa~!

Now, Mia!

[Guess who's sort of too busy to notice that they just sort of...dashed past you in the opposite direction.

A certain blue derp, however, who was running at Phoenix's heels, DOES notice you, however -- and what is that nice smelling stuff on your head?

So, here, have a big blue Quagsire turning around on his heels and...waddle/hopping after you at a surprisingly swift speed.]

Qua quagsire!

[action]

[foolishwren]

_{[Heather and Cujo had only JUST made it out of the building. Panting, Heather was trying to walk and pick mistletoe out of Cujo's coat at the same time. It was harder than it sounded. Considering how wriggly he was.]}

Wh-- Cooj, hold still-- ... huh?

_{[... Wasn't that Butch?]}

[action]

[cheapblusuits.livejournal.com]

[Why, yes. Yes it is.

Upon reaching Heather, Butch waves his arms in a strange...wave-flail motion, looking very excited. Not that he doesn't always look excited, but that's beside the point.

...and, well. Guess who is now going to sort of glom onto your legs.]

Qua sire.

[action]

[shellderkillder.livejournal.com]

[Hey. Hey, Heather.

Shelly is a few metres away, completely unaware of what's going on... while his Ditto is currently hopping away from him to LATCH TO HEATHER'S HEAD. THE MISTLETOE SMELLS NIIICE.]

[action] LOL THAT ICON.

[foolishwren]

<sub>[Well hey there Shelly, Heather's probably a little too busy HIDING ACROSS TOWN FROM HER MANAGER and trying to find gifts for people to talk to you, but OH GOD WHAT IS THIS ON MY HEAD.]

[Letting out a strangled warble, Heather claws at the mysterious, slightly sticky object now clinging to the top of her head.]

[WHARRGARBL]</sub>

[action] Does Ditto ever make any other face?

[shellderkillder.livejournal.com]

[Ripley loves you, Heather! <3 He's just going to hug your face harder. Also, he may now be trying to replicate your hair.

Meanwhile, Shelly has kinda noticed what's going on. Allow him to stroll over to you. Yes, he's taking his time.]

[action]

[exeggutorhead]

[Poor Envy was just trying to shop for presents when Chimera the Larvitar decided that OMG the mistletoe hanging from everywhere smells AMAZING. So here's Envy, trying to catch the little guy as he runs around to get at all of it he possibly can. Including the sprig on top of that girl's head. Have a Larvitar attached to your leg, Heather. Envy, meanwhile, is still looking for Chimera around the last bunch of mistletoe he stopped at, a short distance away.]

[action]

[foolishwren]

<sub>[This was practically like she was back in Silent Hill, except instead of hideous, mutilated freaky monsters trying to jump all over her, it was adorable technicolor ones.]

[Heather makes a sort of HRRKK noise as Chimera latches onto her leg and just sort of... pitches forward into the snow, face-down.]

[TODAY IS THE WORST DAY.]</sub>

[action]

[exeggutorhead]

[At least he's not a Tyranitar yet? Although now that the mistletoe person has conveniently made herself shorter, Chimera is all too happily scampering up to where her head is to stick his face in her hair.]

There you are you stupid-- [Envy has spotted his pokemon, and snatches Chimera up before he can start eating Heather's hair or something. Chimera flails his stubby legs ineffectually, crying out in dismay at the loss of his prize. Then Envy notices who is lying in the snow, and can't help but snicker a little before holding a hand down for her to grab.] Hey there, need some help?

[action] you fail at sticking it to the man, freckles 8l

[usednastyplot.livejournal.com]

[Artemis is just trying to get some wrapping paper that isn't completely covered in sparkles and happy little snowmen with insanely large eyes and deformed mouths. He's leaving the Store with a bag containing a couple of coloured rolls that have no designs when Diana stops to sniff the air.

All this is unimportant though because SHUPPET TO THE FACE, HEATHER!]

[action] shut up she'll kick some trash cans over ok

[foolishwren]

_{[Yeah. This has been happening a lot. So when she exits the building and is INSTANTLY greeted by a SHUPPET IN HER FACE, she just sort of lets out a gargling wail and pitches sideways.]}

[action]

[usednastyplot.livejournal.com]

[But it loooooves you! Come on, just let it chew on your hair for awhile.]

[action]

[adamant]

[ HEY HEATHER

INCOMING GIANT METAL OSTRICH

I HOPE YOU BROUGHT A HELMET ]

[action]

[foolishwren]

<sub>[What was WITH all the Pokemon toda-- OH FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU---!]

[Heather would not be alive today if she didn't have fast reflexes. She also would not be alive today if it weren't for her uncanny ability to deal with large, sharp metal things flying at her head.]

[And the first thing she thought was NOT 'Skarmory'. It was Pendulum.]

[As such, her first action was to snatch up a nearby metal garbage bin and HEAVE it at the incoming attacker.]</sub>


DARRGHAAAGH!!

[action]

[adamant]

[ The garbage bin being launched at her actually makes Skarmory stop in her tracks, but besides a very loud clatter, it bounces pretty harmlessly off her legs. Its contents spill all over the floor, creating a beautiful mess. Leon appears a few moments later, a bit out of breath after chasing down his bird, surveying the damage with a concerned eye. ]

Are you alright? [ No comment on throwing a garbage bin at his pokemon; pretty sure the whole block heard that scream. Skarmory continues to look insistant, but eventually moves to right the upturned garbage can. ]

[action]

[bakaitoukid]

[welp, the trainer of this particular Pokemon happens to be chasing his Wooper and Pichu across town right now.

BUT HEY HEATHER, Biz knows what that mistletoe is for. And he plans on taking advantage of it. So have a purple monkey scampering up to you like the ADORABLE LITTLE THING HE IS and looking up at you expectantly :D]

[action]

[foolishwren]

<sub>[Heather knows what mistletoe is for too! ... She just has no idea she's wearing it.]

[So when Biz comes hopping outta nowhere, Heather pauses midstep, looking down at the familiar purple monkey.]</sub>

... Uh... hey Biz. _{[... She's noticed over time that the only time he usually looks at people like that is when they have food, or shiny things. She has neither.... that she knows of.]}

... I don't have anything right now. Whatcha want?

[action]

[bakaitoukid]

[climbing up her leg to her shoulder now! And... making kissy faces when he gets there. Heatheeeer gimme a kiiiiss]