76. [Accidental Video/Text/Action for Olivine]

[foolishwren]

<sub>[The feed opens in a decidedly innocent fashion. It's jauntily wobbling back and forth as its holder walks, and the screen is filled by a big blue :D face, backed by an even bluer sky. ... And the occasional waving green tips from the sand dunes he's passing. Yes, Butch the Quagsire is on the beach, waddling happily down to the shore with Heather's 'Gear-- perhaps stolen in hopes of being able to carry on a happy WOOOOO-filled long-distance conversation with Flapper.]

[But an angry-sounding gurgle rings out behind him-- and Butch turns to face his pursuer, who is equally blue, but a great deal smaller.]</sub>

Ttt-t-toto!


QUAAAA--

<sub>[What follows is a very shaky view of the sky jittering around as the two Pokemon engage in a fierce tug-of-war over the gadget. Occasionally their faces pop into view, and while it's more or less impossible for a Quagsire to actually look angry, it's obvious that it's a heated debate. Finally, apparently deciding that it's too much trouble, Butch lets go of the 'Gear with a huffy 'QUA!' and waddles off.]

[Godzilla's concerned red eyes appear in front of the screen as he checks over the 'Gear delicately, as if checking to make sure it wasn't damaged. Anyone who's gotten used to the Totodile's presence in Heather's transmissions before may note that he seems a lot more... contrite than usual, maybe? Which has actually been the case ever since the OMNOM ELBOW incident a couple months before... strange.]

[In any case, once satisfied, he sets off waddling back across the sand, determinedly. If anyone's actually cared enough to keep watching that long (or is just tuning in now), his destination becomes apparent immediately.]

[In a shady spot juuuuust where the sand starts to shift over to grass and trees, Heather is sprawled on her back on an unused old picnic table, arms folded behind her head, along with her wadded-up vest for a pillow. There's a few old chip bags and soda bottles scattered around the little sun-dappled area, but it would seem that whoever left them had probably packed up and left much earlier, since Heather's the only one there.]

[... That's probably why she's there... judging from the dull, despondent quality of the way she's staring up at the foliage above.]

[And then she's lost from view briefly, as Godzilla struggles to clamber up to her, first onto the bench-seat, and then the tabletop itself. Then he's standing next to her and fumbling with the 'Gear, giving viewers a view first of her jeans pocket, then one hand, then the card-deck pattern on her shirt, then (inexplicably) a zoomed-in view of worn-out wooden table-top, before it finally settles on her face as he presents the 'Gear to her with a self-important gurgle that can only be an attempt to tattle on Butch.]

[At first, she doesn't even turn her head. It's pretty obvious her mind is elsewhere. But when he tries again, this time nudging her shoulder with the 'Gear, a flicker of irritability crosses her face and she looks over.]</sub>

... Zilla, what--

<sub>[... Oh. It's the 'Gear. ... And the damn red light is blinking.]

[... Heather frowns with lidded eyes and shoves the 'Gear away.]</sub>

Get that thing outta my face.

_{[The Totodile makes an apologetic (and slightly hurt) sound, but relinquishes the 'Gear when she takes it and ends the feed abruptly.]}






[Private text to Harry Mason and Henry Townshend]

Hey

I was thinking maybe we could try and head east to Ecruteak City in a few days??


We've been here awhile now

Comments

action

[her-mouse-jesty.livejournal.com]

[Eventually, a new shadow drapes over her. It's Minnie, standing over Heather, black hair nearly in Heather's face.]

Hello, dear.

action

[foolishwren]

<sub>[--AH WHAT, HAIR-- oh.]

[At first Heather looks mildly surprised, but then her expression sinks back into that sort of ... blank look.]</sub>

... Oh... um, hey...

_{[... Usually she at least makes an attempt to smile when she talks to Minnie, no matter what might be going on at the time. But today she doesn't.]}

[video]

[philanthrotaku.livejournal.com]

Heather?

...What's wrong?

[video]

[foolishwren]

_{[Oh mannn, she knew this would happen. Maybe she should have forced a smile or some goofy joke while she took the 'Gear away from Zilla before turning it off...]}

Nothing.

_{[... yeah, because that's... real convincing.]}

... Nothing you should be worried about.

_{[She hopes.]}

video.

[miniworth]

[ It's Papa! Tal is more than excited to see her Papashire on the camera, though she goes a little quiet when she realizes that Big Mouth (as she will refer to him in Pokéspeak) takes the Gear away from Butch. She dejectedly returns the Gear to Miles who, watching Heather, will raise an eyebrow at her grouchiness.

He sends a video response a few minutes later. ]

He didn't do anything yet, did he?

video.

[foolishwren]

_{[... She pauses before answering. When her feed pops on, she's rearranged her face into the usual casual smile she often wears.]}

Aside from being annoying?

Nah. Nothing like that.

[Video]

[show_my_cannons]

[Well, that's not the Heather he's used to seeing. And, with a lack of anything else to do, considering his health, he pulls up his video feed in return.]

Hey. You okay?

[Video]

[foolishwren]

<sub>[Yeah. It's not.]

[With each new voice ringing in, Heather cringes-- she knew this was gonna happen, dammit 'Zilla... but all the same, the feed flicks back on anyway. A year ago she might have ignored all the questions as to her well-being-- just gone off by herself for awhile. But things have changed and she knows that doesn't work.]</sub>

Hey, um...

... No.

No, not really.

... But I will be.

[video]

[monochrome-mind.livejournal.com]

...

It seems like your Totodile really likes the poke'gear. Is it common for him to steal it?

[video]

[foolishwren]

Huh?

... Oh. Yeah, he likes playin' with it.

I let him film stuff sometimes.

[text]

[no-ufo-ending.livejournal.com]

I can help pack.

[text]

[foolishwren]

Cool, thanks

I'll be back soon, I just wanted to get some air

[Action]

[harryusedworry.livejournal.com]

[He got the text message but decided it was best to come and look for her.]

Hey.

[Action]

[foolishwren]

_{[She hears him approaching long before she actually sees him, and when he gets there, she turns her head and offers him a small smile.]}

Hey, Dad...

_{[... They've probably already spoken at least briefly about Claudia's presence in Johto, if Heather hadn't actually HEARD his conversation with her, anyway. If she had, it's safe to assume that she heartily approved of his sass.]}

[video]

[darkenedgales]

[It doesn't take a genius to figure out that Something's Not Right. And whatever caused her to look so miserable must have been something, since he can't really recall seeing her down like this.]

Oi, Heather? You okay?

[video]

[foolishwren]

_{[OOh boy... she knew this was gonna happen. Well, best deal with it.]}

Hey, Crow.

Yeah, I'll be fine.

_{[... But she didn't say she was fine right now. Because she's not.]}

[Video]

[hallowbethylies.livejournal.com]

Feeling blue?

[Video]

[foolishwren]

_{[If Heather had been an animal, her hackles would have gone up at the sight of him. Instead, she just frowns at the screen.]}

Well, I was, but now that you're here, my aura's turning green.

Like, barf-green.

_{[... But even her usual snark seems a bit lackluster. Truth be told, though, he probably already knows exactly what she's upset about...]}

[action]

[bakaitoukid]

[Heeeey Heather, guess who arrived in Olivine not too long ago? And then decides to look you up once he recognizes what that expression means.

He greets her by holding his hand out in front of her face, twisting it, and doing what he does best-- producing a light pink flower out from thin air for her. His smile is soft and encouraging for once, not playful]

... oi, you.

[action]

[foolishwren]

<sub>[At first, her expression hardly changes from that dull, desolate look it's been holding since she first got filmed by accident not long before-- but then, as she looks at the flower (and then up to his face), the corners of her mouth start to curl upwards a little.]

[She doesn't sit up just yet, but does lift one hand to take that flower.]</sub>

... Hey.

[Video]

[shiromadoushi]

Is everything all right...?

[Video]

[foolishwren]

_{[Poor Bakura... he seems doomed to terse answers. Although it's nothing personal...]}

Fine.

Just thinking.

[video]

[exeggutorhead]

Hey.

[Envy's not going to ask if she's okay, because it sure doesn't look like she is.] Something happen?

[video]

[foolishwren]

... Guess you could say that...

[endlessmagic.livejournal.com]

Ufufufufufufu. How harsh, how harsh.

[Voice]

[foolishwren]

_{[Oh, look who's here to gloat...]}

What do you want.

[video]

[restardom.livejournal.com]

[ like Rise is about to dissuaded by the sight of a despondent Heather. If anything, that only makes her more adamant about speaking up, and she shifts her armful 'o owl. Yeah, he's growing on her. Kind of. ]

Hey... Heather?

[video]

[foolishwren]

<sub>[Oh, Rise...]

[The very sight of the idol sends a horrible stab of GUILT through Heather's insides. Not like, sissy store-brand guilt, either. High Octane Hardcore Guilt is what we're talking about, here.]

[Sup, little sis, hey did I mention that my OTHER little sis just showed up? The one who turned into a monster because I wasn't there for her anymore and grew up to kill my dad and force me to do something horrible and disgusting?]

[Yeah no she's not gonna say that. It just... twists her up inside to think about the people she cares about here coming into contact with the people who had once been in that position themselves... the ones who'd gone wrong. Tragically, tragically wrong.]</sub>

... Hey, Rise...

[Video] This icon is actually pretty perfect.

[notmeantforgod.livejournal.com]

[Claudia's face hovers anxiously, her expression marked with concern.

She seems hesitant when she speaks, however.

Probably for good reason.]

...Alessa...?

[Video] ... it really is

[foolishwren]

<sub>[... Great... Hello, 'little' sister...]

[Heather's eyes flick up at the screen screen. Claudia's seen her face anyway... so there's not much reason to keep it audio. Not, of course, that she looks exactly the same as she had when they had last seen each other...]

[Tanner, now. More freckles.]

[She doesn't say anything at first. Just glares sullenly at the screen. Even lying down, her posture had tensed up... shoulders held closer, mouth pressed into a grim line.]</sub>

...

[video]

[itsthebutz.livejournal.com]

[Seeing Butch makes Larry miss Phoenix all over again. But he quickly brushes those thoughts away since he's done enough missing by now.

So he focuses his attention on Heather.]

Hey, Heather. What's up?

[There's a hint of concern in his voice. He really has no idea what's been going on lately.]

[video]

[foolishwren]

... Hey, Larry....

_{[To be fair, Heather hasn't exactly been broadcasting it...]}