foolishwren | 53. Accidental Video

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Current Location: Her hotel room.

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53. Accidental Video

_{[There's a whole lot of jostling noises before the 'Gear, turned on in the hubbub, tumbles out of a small pile of clothes and lands on the bed, showing a jumble of items and ... general junk that Heather's allowed to accumulate in the hotel room.]

[There's a few crumpled paychecks, unfolded clothing, spare Potions and Pokeballs, and more than a few of the Christmas gifts that she'd gotten from her friends (all the candies and sweets, however, are long gone. Because if Heather didn't eat them, Honey the Butterfree was more than happy to pick up the slack.)]

[Is she... doing some early spring cleaning or what?]}

Where-- ... is it? Dammit...

_{[Her voice, though slightly muffled on account of a small Girafarig plush pressed against the 'Gear's speakers, is clearly audible from somewhere off-camera. There's some sounds of stuff being shuffled or thrown about.]}

I swore I just put it d-- NO, Cujo, don't touch that! I said NO. Leave it alo-- good boy.

Okay, now where is that-- AHA.

_{[The 'Gear is plucked up out of the pile of odds and ends and the camera shows Heather's face briefly. She frowns a little bit at the sight of the red 'recording' light, but shrugs a little bit and lets her arm fall slack, giving everyone a nice, motion-blurred view of her jean leg. She seems a little harried-- too busy to care enough to turn it off.]}

Okay, I think that's just about everything-- Zilla, take that out of your mouth or I'll drop-kick you and you'll choke on it. Just gotta-- _{[Rummaging sounds.]}-- find a way to fit everything in... _{[Wait a moment, is she... packing? Since when was Heather leaving Goldenrod??]}

I think with the new bag, I should be able to-- ....

... CLAUDY. Get OUT of-- ....Claudy, NO-- aw, hell. Claudy...

_{[... There's a brief, resigned pause, and then Heather brings up the 'Gear to eye-level to show the network just what it is she's looking at.]

[Anybody remember Claudy's oh-so-endearing choice of habitat back when she was a cute little Hoothoot who could fit into small spaces? Anybody remember how that adorable (and very inconvenient) habit had disappeared once she had evolved into something as tall as Heather's torso? Juudai, remember how you gave her that great big RK9 sports bag for Christmas?]}

[THE OWLBAG IS PLEASED.]

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I would hope so. It's nasty out there. [B-Brr. He shivers at the memory.]

...er. [WELL...MAYBE. JUST A BIT. YOU ARE STILL A KID TO HIM, OKAY. Let's see if he can save himself here--] W-Well, no, I was just...wondering if I should come with you. _{Or something.}

Ye-eaaaah... I'm... not exactly looking FORWARD to it, but...

_{[And then she pauses, brows proinking up. PARDON?]}

... You...

_{[A kid, definitely-- BUT a kid who could still steal your lunch money and stuff you in a locker if she wanted to, Phoenix.]

[It doesn't look like he's in danger of that, though. The crooked grin appearing on her face is sort of amused, but still genuinely touched.]}

You just got back to town. You'd really troop right out of it again on my account?

...well, at least the blizzard's gone down a bit. _{A bit.}

[He grins as well, albeit a bit sheepishly, maybe even a bit nervous.] W-Well...sure, I mean, I wouldn't want you wandering around by yourself. [Not that this matters due to SNAAAKE, but don't tell Phoenix that.]

...besides, I need to head back to Violet anyway.

[Are you really being so roundabout in just saying that you actually enjoy spending time with the girl, Phoenix? 8| Gawsh.]

_{[She's smiling in earnest now, although as usual there's that slight >8) I C WUT U DID THAR edge to it.]}

Well.

If you wanna come, I wouldn't mind the company.

_{[Not that Snake doesn't already make company just fine-- she's been pals with the grumbly fellow for quite some time. But Phoenix was her bro, too.]}

[EEK IS SHE ONTO HIM -- o-oh well. He rubs the back of his neck, looking a bit hopeful.] I, er...I wouldn't mind the company, either, actually. _{It's going to be a lonely road down to Azalea...}

...but, uh. Would your friend be alright with me coming, too? [HE DOES NOT WANT TO BE A BOTHER. 8(]

_{[YES SHE IS. Not that you're very good at hiding things, Phoenix.]}

I'll talk to him. He can be a bit of a grump but as long as you don't bug him, I don't think he'll mind.

_{[Apart from MAYBE giving Phoenix a suspicious squint or two because Snake was paranoid.]}

[H-He can bluff in court!!

...just not anywhere else.]

A-Alright. [AWWYEAH, PHOENIX CAN DEAL WITH GRUMPS. PHOENIX KNOWS HOW TO ENDEAR HIMSELF TO GRUMPS.]

_{[Heather would be seriously amazed to see him operate in court. Because given his general wibbliness, she's not... actually sure how he can win cases at all.]}

So... not to pry, but... why you goin' back to Violet?

Aside from making sure I don't walk off any ledges and die in a ditch?

_{[HONESTLY SNAKE JUST MIGHT APPRECIATE HAVING A NORMAL, MATURE PERSON TO TALK TO APART FROM HEATHER.]}

[Hey, that's what bluffing is for! Besides, he needs SOMEWHERE to vent all of his pent-up snark...

He actually...takes a second to think about that. Why WAS he going back to Violet?] Well...I need to go to Azalea, and I figured going through the cave would be easier than going through the forest. _{I've already travelled a bit down that route, too...}

[Admit it, Phoenix.

You're just scared of the Venonats.]

_{[IF SHE ONLY KNEW WHAT WAS GOING ON IN HIS HEAD HALF THE TIME.]}

... Really? .... The forest seems easier to me, but I guess I just don't like caves. _{[She didn't... much care for Ilex either, but... OH WELL.]}

... Well, whatever.

You can stick with us.

_{[Don't worry, Phoenix, Heather and Snake can protect you from the wildlife.]}

[SHE WOULDN'T EVEN KNOW HIM ANYMORE.

He grins a bit sheepishly at that.] Well, uh...I can't say I'm a huge fan of forests. Pretty easy to get lost and all...

Besides, Mia and Sirius can light the cave for me, so it shouldn't be too much of a problem. _{I hope...}

[And now, an even more sheepish chuckle.] H-Haha, er...thanks. I'll start packing later today, I guess.

_{[THE WORLD AS SHE KNEW IT WOULD BE OVER.]

[A little bit of realization dawns on her face as he elaborates, although it's more from remembering his past behavior than it is from what he's saying.]}

... You know, it is pretty gloomy in that forest... not even Asimov was able to light it up too well. _{[Asimov being Otacon's Ampharos, that was. Something about that forest just sucked out the light worse than pitch blackness would...]}

And yeah, good idea.

We're probably gonna be leaving real early Friday morning... or... somethin' like that, anyway.

Y-Yeah, uh...maybe it's because of all the murder mysteries and scare videos my friends made me read in college. There was always a forest. _{And I...don't really like bugs.}

[SPIIIIDDEEERRMAAAAAAAN--I mean. He nods.] Alright. Give me call sometime before so I can make sure I'm awake. [Waking up early, he is not good at it.]

_{[... Well, now she's discretely trying to muffle snickers at the mental image of college-age!Phoenix being shown screamer videos on Youtube. And she's not completely succeeding. Snnffkkrrrkk.]}

We-ell. You wouldn't like that forest, then.

Bugs. Everywhere.

_{[Heather didn't even mind bugs. She liked them, actually-- but even she'd gotten a little wigged out while she was in that place. It hadn't helped that Snake had been trolling her by telling her all the Weedles and Caterpies ever would climb into her sleeping bag at night.]}

I'll call, don't worry.

[HLGJLG whyyyy.] W-What?! _{I don't see what's so funny about it!}

[...urk. Not good tidings.] Yeah, uh...I-I think I'll pass. I have trouble enough dealing with one bug...

_{[BECAUSE IT'S HILARIOUS AND KIND OF ADORABLE, PHOENIX. And it would be even funnier if she knew what you actually DRESSED like back then.]} Pffft, nothing.

Anyway, yeah. Cave'd be a better bet for you, I guess. Hey, you'll get some mileage outta that flashlight I have you.

[SUSPICIOUS LOOK IS GO. Ignore these narrowed eyes in your direction, Heather, it's probably just your imagination...

He nods, though, and looks legitly thoughtful at the second statement.] I guess I will, huh? _{Even though I have three...}

But, er...is there anything else I should know about it? _{I heard about the giant bats already, but...}

_{[She's fairly sure it's NOT her imagination, but HEY. SHE DOESN'T CARE. How'd you like THEM apples, lawyer-man?]}

About the cave? No clue... I don't even think I actually went through it.

I still have no real idea how I got to Azalea... I was all... y'know, delirious at the time.

... Pretty sure there's giant snakes made of rock and stuff there, too.

[He does not like them at all. NEXT QUESTION--]

Ah...r-right. [He'll...just have to ask elsewhere.] Well, if you could get there while going through...that, then, uh...I'm sure I'll be fine. _{I hope.}

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53. Accidental Video

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