60. [Video/Action for the Violet City Gym]

[foolishwren]

<sub>[It's been months since the last time Heather set foot in the Violet City Gym. And the last time she did? ... Well, the results were a little embarrassing to say the least.]

[This time around, there's no cocky speech from Heather beforehand, no smug, smirky assurances to whatever audience she might have on the network that she'll be winning. She doesn't even film the arched brow and 'Welcome back' that Falkner gives her upon sight, clearly remembering the epic, flaming disaster that was her first challenge.]

[Instead? When the camera comes on, there's only the briefest of shots of her face-- she flicks one hand in a hasty wave and flashes a grin-- before the camera is handed down to someone very short (and blue) and turned towards the arena. ]

[MULTIPLE ANGLES HOLY WOW. The camera-Totodile (who was instructed firmly not to eat the PokeGear) is airborne thanks to Honey the Butterfree, and the battle begins in 3... 2... 1...]</sub>

_{[The last shot-- as Heather bends down after the battle to retrieve her 'Gear from the Totodile, is of the Zephyr Badge pinched between her thumb and forefinger.]}

~*~

_{[ooc: Heather likely informed any friends who told her they'd watch her battle (whether in person or over the network) when she would be challenging Falkner, so feel free to assume they stopped by! Replies and interactions obviously will be made after the battle's over.]}

Comments

[video]

[bakaitoukid]

[guess who is giving you a victory sign, Heather]

Nice one!

[video]

[foolishwren]

_{[You betta' believe she's popping the collar of her vest up to show off the three badges now gracing it.]}

Thanks!

I think I've improved since the last time, don't you?

_{[She didn't even FLINCH when she commanded Cujo to use Flamethrower. THIS WAS PROGRESS.]}

1/2

[quickattackjack]

_{[At first Jack is like ...]}

[video] 2/2

[quickattackjack]

_{[BUT THEN HE IS LIKE]}

HEATHER! I'm so happy for you! I had forgotten you didn't have that badge!

[video]

[exeggutorhead]

[Arty why so terrifying I MEAN]

Congratulations.

[video]

[foolishwren]

_{[did you see what she did to that Noctowl, Envy? Did you? Now imagine yourself in its place.]}

Thanks!

Not bad, huh?

video |

[foolishwren]

YEEEaaaah, it was pretty rough, buuuut... we won. <sub>[BIG OL' SMIRK.]

Thanks. 'Bout time I got around to it.</sub>

[video]

[miniworth]

[ DO YOU HEAR THIS CHEERING, HEATHER?

IT'S MILES' POKÉMON (minus Pess, who's just smiling, and Jason, who's wibbling), CHEERING FOR YOUR VICTORY.


Oh, and Miles clapping politely. ]

[video]

[foolishwren]

_{[When Heather tunes in after the battle, the sight and sound of the little band bring a great big grin to her face.]}

Hey, guys!

_{[She's beaming more widely than Miles has probably seen her do in awhile. And that was saying something, for Heather.]}

[action]

[philanthrotaku.livejournal.com]

[Otacon very nearly applauded, but ahaha hello broken arm and pain.]

Great job, Heather.

[action]

[foolishwren]

<sub>[See Heather's face, Otacon? See how widely she's grinning? You haven't seen her smile this big in a really long time. Not since before December, in all likelihood.]

[That first failure at winning that badge had been sitting more heavily on her than she probably let on.]

[Also since you are her big bro you get to be on the receiving end of her adrenaline-fueled derp.]</sub>

Were you watching?

Did you watch the whole thing?!

Did you see when Claudy was like-- FFFHWWWOOOSH and she like-- did that thing with her claws and the Pidgeot was like-- oh man, you saw that, right?!

[Video]

[catsteward.livejournal.com]

[Just kinda watching this display, and embarrassed that she'd made it look so easy when his own team had struggled TWICE to pull off their win.

He doesn't so much say it as he sputters it...]

...impressive.

[Video]

[foolishwren]

<sub>[HURR HURR GAGA U R A LEWSER.]

[But seriously, it's okay. You didn't see how epically she failed during her first battle against Falkner back in September...]

[Needless to say, when she replies to Gaga, she's JUST A LITTLE BIT SMIRKY-- ... but in a good mood. A good, non-trolling mood, even!]</sub>

Heh, thanks!

It was tough, but in the end, I think our innate badassery won out. Right, guys?

_{[Godzilla the Totodile leaps up to make himself visible in the screen, gurgling with agreement. SHUT UP, GODZILLA, YOU WEREN'T EVEN IN THE BATTLE.]}

{Video} jdkanzcvjk YOUR ART OMG *A*

[used-glare.livejournal.com]

{Do you hear it, Heather? Look down and you might see a rather odd collection of Pokemon voicing their congratulations through the 'Gear. And some of them might look a tad familiar.}


H-hey guys, let me see the 'Gear - !

{Video} XD Aw shucks, thanks!

[foolishwren]

Enjoy the battle?

_{[Why yes, Heather is just smug as shit right now.]}

[voice]

[shellderkillder.livejournal.com]

I see you were prepared this time. Congratulations.

[voice]

[foolishwren]

What, you doubted me?

[video]

[usednastyplot.livejournal.com]

[Clap, clap, clap.]

[video]

[foolishwren]

_{[Wow. Applause from the Artmeister. She scrubs some of the hair out of her face and holds up the 'Gear.]}

Yo.

How'd I look out there? Awesome?

video;

[cynicizing.livejournal.com]

Heh, not bad. Congrats.

video;

[foolishwren]

_{[She's buffing her nails on her vest and just might be puffing her chest out a bit to show off the shiny new badge pinned to her collar.]}

Thanks.

Me and my guys, we're pretty much naturals.

Video;

[usedtherapy.livejournal.com]

Very impressive. Congratulations.

Video;

[foolishwren]

Thanks!

Figured I oughta show everybody how it's done.

_{[All the boasting she's doing is goofy and not too serious-- but she is almost palpably happy with herself over the victory, and that's obvious.]}

[video]

[newhero.livejournal.com]

[goodness, Arty... nonetheless! have a little bro cheering enthusiastically, Heather!]

Geez, you kicked butt!

[video]

[foolishwren]

_{[ARTY IS A THOUSAND SUNS' WORTH OF WRATH PACKAGED UP IN AN ADORABLE, OBSCENELY FURRY BODY.]}

H'yeah, pretty much.

_{[See Heather. See Heather be ridiculously proud.]}

SO. Did you take notes on that performance? 'Cause there's stuff in there that'll be on the hardcore test. I'm just sayin'. If you wanna pass.

[video]

[restardom.livejournal.com]

Yeeeeeeeeeeees!

[ fist in the air and EVERYTHING. ]

[video]

[foolishwren]

_{[Heather just GRINS. Broad and proud. Rise was one of the friends who'd actually been around when Heather LOST the first time-- which made her cheering all the more meaningful.]}

[Video] Gorgeous art as always, dude! *o*

[used-defog.livejournal.com]

[Dash is glad to see something legitimately good and awesome happening to Heather, especially after their last conversation wasn't the happiest. That, and it's always nice having EPIC GYM BATTLES to distract you from the fact that you are trapped in a cave WITH NO ESCAPE. (Jack was right. There are a whole lot of rocks.)

So, have a cheering Crayolahead!] Oh my gosh, Heather-- dude, that was so awesome! [A pause.] Well, I mean... Heh, not as awesome as my battle with Falknerd was, but it was, uh... up there, ya know? So, uh, yeah! It was awesome! Kudos! [Oh, Dash, you just jelly.]

[Video] Aw thanks brah!

[foolishwren]

<sub>[Yeeeeaaaah, Heather's pretty happy that things are looking up for her, too.]

[And you BET Heather's smirking like it's goin' out of style. She is VERY proud of herself. It helps that Dash's enthusiasm actually... y'know, means a lot. Given the ex-pegasus's tendency to bluster and pretend not to care when she was being OUT-COOLED.]</sub>

Yeeeeah, I would've like, won within the first five minutes, but I decided to go easy on the guy.

But yeah, thanks!

_{[Cujo sticks his head into the screen and lets out a deep WOOF of agreement.]}

So you and Jack are in Union Cave, huh?

[ Video. ]

[imthe-shit.livejournal.com]

[Snake's looking proud of you, Heather. He offers a small smile. Sunny and Marlboro both chime in excitedly, with Sunny chirping happily and Marlboro turning in circles.]

[ Video. ]

[foolishwren]

_{[And Heather's grinning like Christmas came early. She's still flushed with the victory and the proud look on Snake's face rather than the "BI REALLY HEATHER?" look he wears so often doesn't hurt, either.]}

Soooo....?

Did I do good, or did I do good?

[video]

[itsthebutz.livejournal.com]

'bout time you got the first badge!

[What, Larry likes to brag.]

That was an awesome battle though.

[video]

[foolishwren]

Hey, shaddup!

_{[She says, mock-angrily. She's too happy to actually be mad, though.]}

I was just waitin' so that I could do it with a bang!