54. Video/Action/Text [BACKDATED TO FRIDAY THE 4TH]

[foolishwren]

_{[It's cold today. You know that miserable part of winter that comes in the last stretch before spring? It's not that somehow-festive, powdery cold with deep blue nights and busy-but-cheerful days buzzing with anticipation that stretch through December... It's not even the fresh, new whiteness of January.]}

[It's that dismal, perpetual grayness that fogs up February. You know the kind. The days are dark, the streets are full of slush, and the sidewalks are covered in black ice. It's just as cold as December, but it's somehow worse because at least in December you've got that tingly holiday feeling to keep you warm. February, on the other hand, has nothing to look forward to and it lasts forever.]

[Everybody hates February.]

[But when the feed clicks on, it's NOT outside-- it's already in the brightly-lit gym of Goldenrod City, and the camera is.... roughly at knee-level, and conveniently pointed straight at what appears to be a Miltank udder. Because that's how tall Godzilla is and lol what is that thing it's funny-lookin' and he's apparently not aware that UDDERS ARE NOT WHAT PEOPLE WANT TO LOOK AT.]

[In the background, there's a sound that should be VERY familiar now to anyone who's been watching the network recently--]
   
BWUUHHHHUHUHUHUHAAWHWHHHH! AHAWWWHHUH, y-ou-- you-- you meanie! Y-youhuhuh can't-- you just-- .... y-you're always so MEAN!  
 
_{[The camera's shifting and Whitney's white-shoed feet are pacing back and forth fitfully as she cries.]}

[Heather's voice cuts in from somewhere above. It's even and level-headed, but there's an underlying quiver that anyone who's known Heather for any length of time will recognize as being a sign that she is physically restraining herself from strangling somebody.]

Look-- lady-- ... girl-- thing, during that battle, I deliberately refrained from being mean because every friggin' time I come in here, you're fucking CRYING EVERYWHERE.

I KNOW! I r-ruh-remember you, y-you always c-come in here to w-watch your MEAN FRIENDS and then y-you c-call me a BABY!

... Well, you are!

Y-YOU'RE SO MEAN TO ME, J-JU-JUST G-GO AWUH-WAY!!!"

I CAN'T, you haven't given me the freakin' badge-- AND WILL YOU STOP CRYING?!

AAAWWHHHHUHUHUHUHUHHHHHHHHH....!!!

Oh, for fuck's sa--

_{[The feed jitters to a soundless halt around that point-- Godzilla hit a wrong button and muted the sound. However, as the minutes pass, it looks like Whitney's calming down-- consoled by her girlfriends and probably a (VERY) grudging effort on Heather's part. As this happens, the camera shifts around occasionally-- showing a battered-looking but serene Honey, an irate Arty licking at two big flat sections of her fur (during the battle, she was a Rollout Victim (tm)), and Cujo, as derpy as ever.]}

[And then, the sound comes back on-- what's this? Heather sounds even pissier than she was when Whitney was crying!]

-ok, I don't care if you have a really good hairstylist, I am not here for a haircut. I don't care that I have split ends and I don't care that my roots are showing. I am here because you won't give me my freakin' badge.

WELL. I just thought that I'd offer some advice because you clearly were raised in an environment where nobody taught you how to take care of your own personal hygie--

_{[Heather's voice is tinged with absolute disbelief.]} I am not-- I'm not even listening to this. This is bullshit.

You're friends with that girl with the gorgeous pigtails! How could you possibly be friends with her and still have such an atrocious haircu--

For friggin'-- MY HAIR IS NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS. Give. Me. The badge. Or I will--

_{[She pauses, probably looking over her shoulder-- quite a few of her friends showed up to watch and, being much better people that she is, several of them are probably giving her VERY MEANINGFUL GLANCES RIGHT ABOUT NOW. With a deep sigh, she evidently turns back to Whitney.]}

Okay. Look. I'm sorry that I'm a huge mean asshole with awful hair. Now, will you please give me the badge?

_{[Whitney brightens up visibly on the camera and completely ignores the badge request.]}

So you admit it? YAY! Anyway, like I was saying about my stylist, he's great with hopeless cases, and seriously, I don't think you'll be able to find anyone else who can handle your hopeless case, I mean, seriously, it's that hopeless, no offense or anything, it's not like it's your fault, and--

I'd go to your stylist... _{[Heather's voice is dangerously low.]} ... if I wanted to look like a tool.

<sub>[Whitney falls silent. Her expression is that of a well-meaning but tactless teenage girl who was only trying to help. The camera zooms in on her face slowly. Her eyes... are welling up with tears again.]



... oh motherf--</sub>



[TEXT to Phoenix and Snake, sent hastily as she's coming off the battlefield-- both are in the stands.]

Dave, Phoenix-- you guys okay with leaving tomorrow?

Im packed.




_{[OOC: Action for anyone who went to see Heather battle! She probably asked several of her closest friends if they'd like to come, considering she was about to leave Goldenrod for a spell.}
For the watchers, the battle was intense and fairly close, but Heather stuck it out in the end. Honey's Stun Spore was integral.]

Comments

[text]

[cheapblusuits.livejournal.com]

[Meandering down the stands...let's hope he doesn't trip!]

That's fine with me. I can pack everything tonight.

...but, jeez, I'm glad she didn't notice MY hair...

[text]

[foolishwren]

_{[DON'T TEXT WHILE WALKING DOWN STAIRS PHOENIX THAT'S NOT GOOD.]}

She'd probably have had a heart attack and DIED if she saw your hair.

but at least you don't have split ends

_{[She puts the 'Gear away when she gets close enough to the stands, though. TALKING IN PERSON TRUMPS TECHNOLOGY YEEAAAAH]}

[action] Heather, MAKING LITTLE GIRLS CRY NOW SHAME

[puzzling]

[Of course the Professor went to watch Heather battle! Even if he hasn't been asked, he has been wandering around the city and trying to catch up with a month. Just...gonna approach her after the whole crying thing is over.]

Congratulations on your win, Miss Mason. Wonderful job, as usual. [SO PROUD OF YOU]

[action] SOB SHE CAN'T HELP IT, SHE IS BAD TO THE BONE

[foolishwren]

_{[Now that she's cooled off from the annoyance a little bit (and Whitney has presumably gone off to the other side of the field to let her friends try and cheer her up), Heather's looking a little tired but more or less peppy. She's got the hard-earned badge pinned to her collar next to the Hive Badge.]}

W-- aw, it was nothing, Proff'.

Thanks, though.

For coming to watch.

_{[Professor, you are still the only person to get her to blush like this. KAITO, TAKE NOTES.]}

It means a lot to me.

[video] LOOK MA IM TAGGING LIKE A BOSS FFFFFF

[quickattackjack]

_{[Jack looks rattled. His voice is low.]}

I don't think I want that badge.

[video] BABY I'M SO PROUD OF YOU. ;-; COME HERE FOR KISSES.

[foolishwren]

I am never setting foot in this gym again in my life.

[video] SO MANY HORRIBLE BACKTAGS I OWE. AND YET.

[dontshootmebro.livejournal.com]

[pay no mind to the sudden!Zubat addition to her small team. guess who was killing time waiting for the weather to clear by wandering around the outskirts of town

it's sitting on her head. but really. pay no mind.

SHE SHOULD PROBABLY LIKE, SCOLD HEATHER FOR SUCH FOUL LANGUAGE AND MAKING PEOPLE CRY BECAUSE YOU'RE HARRY MASON'S DAUGHTER BUT Cybil can't help but be amused by these shenanigans.]

...wow.

[video] IT'S OKAY, I ACCEPT YOU.

[foolishwren]

<sub>[Ahahuhuh, bathead. It's like bedhead, but worse.]

[To be fair, Whitney cries at everything, although on the other hand to be equally fair, Heather was kind of mean. Feel free to scold her when you see her in Violet, Cybil.]

[But in the meantime, feel free to watch TEENAGE GIRLS BITCH AT EACH OTHER and be happy that you're not in high school anymore.]</sub>

I hate this gym.

[video]

[bakaitoukid]

... should've offered to take her out on a date or something.

[video]

[foolishwren]

I-- .... what.

_{[... K-Kaito what are you implying.]}

... Okay, first of all-- I've got better taste than that, and second of all-- .... we just spent like fifteen minutes fighting about how much she hates my hair.

[Video]

[dragonspeak]

[Just...this expression. He never realised Whitney could...be so critical of the trainers who challenged her]

[Video]

[foolishwren]

<sub>[TO BE FAIR... Heather has a history of coming in to watch her friends battle and then being bitchy about Whitney's crying, so THERE MIGHT BE A LITTLE UNDERLYING (BUT JUSTIFIED) RESENTMENT GOING ON THERE. But Whitney meant well! She did! Why do folks gotta be so mean. ;-;]

[Also, it probably helped that Heather caused arguments like the plague.]</sub>


Yep.

I'm done.

I am so done with this city.

[Video]

[serpensrex.livejournal.com]

I am so sick and tired of hearing that person's voice broadcasted. Who is it? Tell me! I order you!

[Video]

[foolishwren]

You think YOU'RE sick and tired of it?

I had to listen to it in person.

And it's the gym leader in Goldenrod, for the record.

[imthe-shit.livejournal.com]

[The battle was pretty good, though Snake did holler at Heather a few times for her to focus, different tactics he thought were helpful, the like. Still, she came out victorious and that's what mattered. This meant they could go back to Violet soon... Though Snake had a longer journey ahead of him still.

Watching Whitney blubber and wail, Snake took the time to check for any messages on his gear. Might as well leave one for Otacon... After that, he approaches Heather.]

I find ignoring her is a bit easier than trying to argue with her.

[foolishwren]

_{[Oh yes-- where would Heather be without the excellent Snake Advice? Well, she might not have won, actually! He knew his stuff. In any case, she slouches up to him looking kind of exhausted once all the DRAMAS are over.]}

Ugh, I know, but-- I couldn't help it! She makes me so mad.

video

[her-mouse-jesty.livejournal.com]

All of that crying cannot be healthy.

But congrats, dear.

video

[foolishwren]

I'm amazed she isn't all withered up like a raisin.

But yeah, thanks... whfff. Not coming back to THIS gym again any time soon...

{Video} Because what are timelines.

[used-glare.livejournal.com]

... Heather.

{Video} timelines are for weenies

[foolishwren]

_{[Uh oh. She knows THAT tone.]}

What.

[action]

[restardom.livejournal.com]

[ Rise's newly arrived into Goldenrod and still shedding snow, but she poked her head into the Gym once she catches the video. And instantly regrets it, geez Whitney. ]

... Uh, hey.

[action]

[foolishwren]

_{[RISE HELP HEATHER SKULK AWAY FROM THE SCENE.]}

What?

I can't hear you, my ears are ringing.

_{[And that's WHOSE fault, Heather, hmmm?]}

[video]

[rodeopony.livejournal.com]

Who's that poor girl, and what didja do to make her cry?

[video]

[foolishwren]

That poor girl is a Gym Leader and I didn't do a think but beat her in a Pokemon battle! Which is like-- ... her job!

_{[... you also said she looked like a tool, Heather. Let's be fair, here.]}

She does this every time someone fights her for her badge!

[video]

[drugsbeleid.livejournal.com]

... She still hasn't been fired?

[video]

[foolishwren]

Nope.

[video]

[miniworth]

[I-I'm sorry Heather, but Miles was a well-raised child whose father took care of his hair, called it cool because it was a "dark silver" (not gray, apparently) color, and then adopted by the von Karma family. And his personality made him take care of his own appearance, too. That's just the kind of kid he is.

.....T;dr - he's eying your hair before he speaks.] If you don't take good care of your hair, they'll start falling out. [A beat.] She seemed to be taking it really far, but it won't hurt to have it trimmed..

[video]

[foolishwren]

_{[And Heather? Is first staring at him across the network with an expression of pure disbelief-- which soon darkens into a legit glare.]}

Miles. Kiddo.

You know I love you.

But if you know what's good for you?

You'd better stop talking right now.

<sub>[YOUR PERFECTIONISM IS ADORABLE... WHEN IT'S NOT BEING DIRECTED AT HEATHER.]

[Needless to say, Whitney just drained every last drop of patience out of her so she's noooot quite willing to deal with hair suggestions from the bitty prosecutor.]</sub>

[Action]

[pillowichooseu.livejournal.com]

[Yeah James was there for the whole thing. He's proud you beat her, and even though he won't admit that you had every right to be frustrated with that girl, Heather, he's giving you a disappointed looked.]

[Who cares how much that girl reminded him of a more girly, older Laura. That was mean to treat her like that!]

[Action] SOB I PROMISE I'LL TAG THAT OTHER THREAD AND WE CAN BACKTAG FOREVER

[foolishwren]

_{[And Heather's draaaagging herself over to the stands where her friends are.]}

..... aw, c'mon, don't give me that look!

You saw her! She cried before I so much as looked at her!

text;

[chakram-ofwit.livejournal.com]

Wow... What is with that girl? Someone needs to slap some sense into her or something.

[The crying girl makes Rachel slightly uncomfortable. Not that long ago, part of her had been a crying, wibbling, scrap of pathetic humanity. The lesson there was, she still was, deep down inside.]

text;

[foolishwren]

You mean apart from being an enormous baby?

You tell me.

Anyway... I would've punched her but I've already got a bad enough rep with the police around here without attacking sports celebrities.

Voice

[no-nukes-plz.livejournal.com]

[Huey is laughing hysterically.]

I didn't think anyone could cry for that long and still be able to talk.

Voice

[foolishwren]

_{[GO AHEAD, HUEY. LAUGH AT HEATHER'S PAIN.]}

Yeah, well... she's had plenty of practice.

[video]

[exeggutorhead]

The hell is her problem? [He's heard the Sobbing Terror over the Gear a few times, but this is the first time he's actually paid attention. And he looks so disdainful of the hysterics.]

And if she's going to go on about your hair that much, I don't think I want to know what she'd say about mine.

[video]

[foolishwren]

Probably the same thing I say about it, except way stupider and with a lot more 'likes'.