foolishwren | 64. [Voice/Action for Goldenrod] Backdated to Friday/Thursdayish.

_{[It's probably been a week and a half or so since anybody's heard a whole lot from Heather's end of the line-- given the recent turn of events, coupled with catching up on things with her father, she just hasn't been talking much.]

[But if anyone missed the sound of yet another ranty teenager on the 'Gear network, well, today their wishes and hopes will be realized.]

[A crackle of interference precedes her voice, and in the background there's the steady rumble of a Steelix making headway on a dirt path.]}

Heeeey Johto, what's crackin'?

Totally fell off the face of the planet for a bit there.

Anyway, for those who care, Goldenrod just came into sight over the hill, so Dad and I'll be strolling into town within a couple hours, probably.

I'll be lookin' for a few of you as soon as we get checked in and stuff-- you guys know who you are. _{[She's lookin' at you, Kaito. Dinner plans aside, she still needs to give him that hug.]}

And uh-- Snake, you still in the hotel? I'll heal Solid up at the Center first if you want me to, but otherwise, I'm sure he'll be glad to see his Trainer. Sorry the trip wound up takin' so long.

Anyway, uh-- ... see you guys in a few hours.

... Feel free to call me up and chat, though, the road's dusty and it's a real bore to look at for hours on end.

_{[ooc: For Action, feel free to encounter Heather in the hotel lobby or Pokemon Center healin' up her monsters after arriving.]}

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Chie takes the ball, squeezing it a couple times to let the slobber drain onto the ground. She doesn't toss it yet, reaching out to pet Cujo, giving him those classic ear-scritches.]

It's fine! I've always liked dogs. We have one at home, but it's been a while since I saw him, obviously.

_{[Panting joyfully, Cujo proceeds to SIT and lean his considerable weight against Chie's legs, craning his head back against the scritches to stare up at her adoringly. NEW BEST FRIEND. NEW BEST FRIEND.]

[Heather, for her part, just sorta laughs and rubs the back of her neck.]}

Heh, I've... never been a fan, myself.

_{[Which was Heather-talk for 'I'm straight-up phobic'. Fortunately Cujo had sort of... conditioned her to at least deal with dogs without aiming a frantic kick if they got too close.]}

[Chie goes 'oof' when Cujo leans against her, but she doesn't complain, grinning down at him and continuing to pet him.]

Oh, yeah? [She kinda understands what Heather's saying -- that's about the same tone of voice she gets when she talks about bugs.] Looks like you and him are getting along okay, though. How long have you had him?

_{[And he will just continue to soak up all that attention like a sponge. It's not that he doesn't get enough from Heather, but c'mon, who'd turn it down.]

[And OH the irony-- Heather actually likes bugs. Talk about polar opposites on the phobia scale.]}

Yeeeeah, well, we had a rocky start, but he grew on me.

_{[... Grudgingly.]}

A little.

[Clearly this must be the beginning of a beautiful phobia trade! Chie can handle the dogs, and Heather can handle the bugs.]

That's good to hear! Shadow -- uh, she's my Banette, that I caught the first time I was in Johto. When I met her again she was acting up a lot, but we got used to each other pretty soon.

... The first time?

So you were here before and then came back?

That's what my friends told me! I actually don't remember any of it, though. [Which still weirds her out a little, but for the most part she's used to it by now.]

... Huh.

_{[And yet, some people DID remember when they returned... by this point, Heather had heard so many different stories that she wasn't sure what to believe by this point.]}

Well, welcome back!

[Yeah, Chie has pretty much just chalked it up to the Weirdness of Johto.]

Thanks! My name's Chie. Pleasure to meet you and your friend here!

Chie...? Oh, hey, you're Rise's friend, right?

Name's Heather! And this guy's Cujo.

_{[Who was now butting the slobber-covered ball against Chie's knee.]}

Oh, you know Rise-chan? [Silly question -- sometimes it seems like everyone does.] Yep, we're from the same town!

Heather... [She's heard that name too, from somewhere...] Oh! You're the one Rise-chan wanted that egg for! Did she give it to you yet?

[Okay, okay, Cujo, more attention for you now. Chie kneels to scratch him behind the ears, picking up the ball and tossing it once he's been sufficiently petted.]

Yeah, actually! She's been my friend practically since I got here. _{[Of course, Rise was friends with almost EVERYBODY-- something Heather sort of marveled at.]}

Wait, the uh-- ... the purple one? Yeah, actually! Um-- thanks, I guess!

_{[Delighted, Cujo immediately tears after the ball.]}

She said it... punched things, so she thought it'd be a good match. Gotta say, I can't argue with that logic.

_{[.. Of course, she'd never seen what Hitmonchan looked like before... she might change her mind if she had.]}

Rise-chan's awesome like that. [Stated like the fact that it clearly is.]

Sure thing! Honestly, I was just happy to find them all homes. That Ditto of Souji-kun's is crazy. [She chuckles.] And the neat thing is it can evolve in two ways! I know someone with a Hitmonchan that punches, and mine evolved into a Hitmonlee that kicks! I think maybe it's how you train them that decides it?

Yeah, she really is. _{[There was a reason Rise had become one of Heather's closest friends over the past year or so-- hell, there was a reason Rise had become one of a LOT of peoples' closest friends. Heather honestly wasn't sure how she did it. Girl was wicked good with people, that's for sure.]}

Huh, seriously? _{[A moment's thought.]} ... Man, I'd be fine with either. Punching and kicking? Always a blast.

[Chie chuckles at that.] My fighting style's all kick-based, personally. Good to be versatile, though! I'll be interested to see how yours grows up.

Really? That's cool... I pretty much do whatever I can. I like keeping my options open in a fight.

Want me t'let you know what it grows into?

Makes sense. Yeah, that'd be great! Bruce kinda likes hearing what his kids are up to, too.

64. [Voice/Action for Goldenrod] Backdated to Friday/Thursdayish.

[action] And I just keep finding MORE posts to tag. ;;

[action] ;-; /HUGS. JUST... HUGS

[action] /all the hugs. all of them.

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]