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

_{[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.]}

Ttt-t-toto!

QUAAAA--

_{[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.]}

... Zilla, what--

_{[... Oh. It's the 'Gear. ... And the damn red light is blinking.]

[... Heather frowns with lidded eyes and shoves the 'Gear away.]}

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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Nope, it didn't.]

... Hang on a sec.

[And he hangs up, no response coming as minutes pass.

--Not until light footsteps can be heard nearby. Looks like he's serious about finding out what's wrong. And Serious Crow (TM) is a rare occurence...]

Yo.

_{[By the time he gets there, she's sat up, one leg to her chest and an arm wrapped around it. She looks over her shoulder at the sound of his approach, looking mildly alarmed. Christ, he was FAST... did that many people really know about this place?]}

Uh-- ... hey.

[Hey, he's had enough time during his last stay to get to know Olivine and the surrounding parts pretty damn well, especially since he's rather fond of this particular town.

He walks over casually and settles himself next to her, extending his arm with a can of cola in his hand.]

Here. I brought you something.

_{[She takes it after a brief hesitation... then brings the can up to rest against the side of her face. It's a hot day and the cold moisture feels nice.]}

Thanks...

[Crow opens his own can and takes a sip from it, although he keeps watching her with the corner of an eye. He really doesn't want to pry, but the urge to try to help is stronger.]

... So. You're gonna tell me what's wrong?

_{[Heather can be a hard person to help, sometimes... not because she won't admit that something's wrong (a common problem among Troubled Young People (tm)), but just because... well, she's hard to help!]}

... Just my past catchin' up with me. That's all.

_{[She's already told Kaito about the FIRST little problem... but the second is faaaaar worse, at least on a personal level for Heather.]}

[Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending), Crow's not a kind of person who would be discouraged by that. Trying to help no matter what is just in his nature.

He lowers his gaze, staring at the can in his hand before he finally speaks again.]

... It always does, doesn't it.

Yeah.

It waited a good long while to do it, though.

_{[She sinks forward a bit, resting her face sideways on her knee. Not drinking the soda yet.]}

And came back when you least expected it? Figures.

[That's what the past always does, it seems.]

Yeah.

_{[She rolls the can back and forth between her hands, just staring out at the beach.]}

I mean... I always knew it was possible.

But I didn't think it would actually...

[He doesn't say anything, apparently focused solely on his soda for now. A good few minutes pass before he decides to take a wild guess.]

... Someone you didn't wanna see showed up?

... Yeah.

Basically.

... Not the first one.

... I dunno if Kaito said anything about the other, but there was one earlier this week, too.

Not as bad. Still sucky, though.

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

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