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

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Current Location: Olivine City

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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

_{[The suggestion gets a snort-- she's been sittin' long enough, it's time to get back on her feet-- as she steps down onto the sandy grass.]

[Her own grin fades as well, when he asks the question... but the gloom has passed, at least for now. They'd had their heart-to-heart and it had helped, but it didn't get rid of the problem. No, there were still things to worry about, and she's not about to keep him in the dark. If anyone deserves to know, it's a friend like him.]

[So she straightens up, shoving her own hands into her pockets.]}

Claudia.

Claudia Wolf.

_{[Seem familiar, Kaito? You fought her daddy in a nightmare that one time...]

[Sighing, she turns to look out at the dunes.]}

... You might've already talked to her...

[... yeah. That name is familiar. And he's talked to her all right, although he never got a name.]

Ha... another Wolf... [he trails off, gaze flickering to the side, before it returns to her]

I'll keep an eye out for her, just like that Vincent guy.

Yeah... wolves tend to be bad news, don't they?

_{[The statement is joking, but there's no mirth to it.]

[In fact, she steps forward a little bit-- right in front of him.]}

If you do talk to her... she is... she's nothing like Vincent at all.

Not even remotely close.

... That's why...

_{[Trailing off a bit and rubbing the back of her head as she tries to think of the words.]}

... That's why what you told me... it's... it's true for a lot of things. MOST things, actually.

... But not her.

_{[Another pause. And then...]}

If she says anything about my father... it's not true.

No matter how true she makes it sound.

. . .

[He doesn't step away when she approaches, and he watches her carefully as she talks. At the end, he nods]

... yeah. I won't believe a word she says. [A breath] Promise.

... Thanks.

It's... she's not like Vincent. _{[... You already said that, Heather.]}

Vincent... he'd just tell you shit to get to me. He probably came out of his mother's womb lying.

... But Claudia ... whatever she says, you can be sure she believes every single word of it with every fiber of her being.

_{[Her gaze had trailed over to the ocean as she spoke, and the look on her face is ... well, it's sad, but... somehow different from that chaotic look of combined anguish and anger she'd been wearing before.]}

... I don't wanna lose anybody else to that place. Not here. Not where it's so far away that it shouldn't even be able to touch anything.

[she may feel his hand sliding over her shoulder again]

You won't. She's not gonna hurt you, or anyone else. She's...

[a beat] She may be here, but Johto is a big place. You've dealt with her once before, Heather.

You're strong enough to do it again, if you need to.

_{[A smile tugs at the corners of her mouth and she lets one of her own hands rest on top of his.]}

... Yeah.

Yeah, I think you're right.

_{[After all, this time, the world wasn't at stake. ... Just her personal comfort. And you know, she could deal with that.]}

... Thanks.

For talking some sense into me.

[a nod, and that smile is definitely encouraging]

Don't mention it.

And if she tries anything, 'm pretty sure she'll have to deal with me afterward, anyway. [a scoff] And who would want to do that?

Heh, yeah. Can't think of anyone who would. You'd smile 'em to death.

That's ONE thing that's sure different now... this time, Dad and I have a posse.

_{[... Well? It was kinda TRUE!]}

[pulling his hand away and giving her a light nudge on the shoulder]

Do you know how scary posses can get? Do you?

_{[Smile growing, Heather goes to give him a nudge back-- a slightly rougher one.]}

I guess if I don't, I'll find out, huh?

[he tilts backward a bit but doesn't stumble]

There's no line of defense better than that of a posse.

Except maybe a barricade.

_{[She makes a move to playfully shove him while he's leaning backwards, but ... her energy reserves have honestly been a little depleted these past few days, so once her hand is pressed to the front of his shoulder and ready to push, she just sort of ... stops, realizing fatigue and her usual rough-housing don't really work too well together.]}

... Heh. I should probably head back to the hotel room... I've been brooding out here for like... most of the morning.

[He notices this lack of energy and eyes her once, before giving a light shrug]

I've got a better idea that's much better than brooding in your hotel room.

[aaand he reaches out to wrap his fingers around her wrist, giving her hand a light tug]

Ice cream? 'S hot enough.

... Y'know, I could go for that.

_{[If there was ONE thing she could think of that'd make all this a little more bearable... it's probably ice cream.]

[She reaches up with her free hand to rub the now-dried tears off of her face, nodding. And, after a brief pause, twisting her hand just out of his grip enough that she can close her fingers around his.]}

Got a place in mind?

[... fffffft even he can't quite prevent the light red flush that suddenly decorates his cheeks as her fingers twine with his. His gaze flickers away for a very brief moment before he turns to her again, still grinning.]

There's this place called the Seasalt Seel near the gym. They have pretty good sundaes.

_{[Maybe it's just because she's paying a lot more attention to the people she's got in her life now that she's had this little reality-check of sorts, or maybe it's because of the way he'd brushed his lips on her cheek earlier, but... she actually takes a little notice of the way he looks away, for once.]

[Not sure what it means, but the flush earns a fond smile-- but not without its usual edge, the one that says 'I would be teasing you if I weren't nice. And also tired.']}

A sundae sounds amazing. I'm sold.

_{[Taking a last look at the ocean, she turns and starts to head out of the little picnic area and away from the beach, back towards the streets of the city. ... Oh yeah... the city.]

[That reminds her of what she'd been meaning to ask, ever since that chat with Aoko. ... Maybe on the way.]}

[he tugs on her hand, then, and starts in that direction, pretending that he has no idea what that smile means]

You'd be pretty crazy if you weren't sold.

[... she's free to ask him anything she wants while they make their way to the ice cream stand too]

Yeah, and as ridiculous as the past few days have been, the stress hasn't made me snap that far yet.

_{[The walk goes in relative peace for a little while. It's one of those nice days where people are out and about yet nothing seems to really be happening... There's a lot of those days in Olivine.]

[But after awhile, Heather does speak up.]}

OH. Yeah, uh... I was gonna ask something. Got a little distracted, all things considered...

But uh, I was talking to Aoko the other day...

Good.

[He glances over at her again when she speaks, eyebrow quirked curiously]

-- Aoko?

Yeah. Just about... y'know, traveling and stuff...

Anyway, um...

Dad and Henry and I were thinking about maybe moving on and heading to Ecruteak. Since... we never got to stop there, we just went straight to Olivine on the Field Trip From Hell...

But, uh... I was just thinking, if you guys were heading in that direction too and... didn't... mind leavin' within the next few days, you guys could come with us.

[griiin]

Are you kidding? 'Course we'll go with you. The sooner we get out of Olivine, the better.

_{[She hadn't really expected him to say 'no', but it's still a big lift when he says 'yes'. A grin spreads across her face.]}

Hah, yeah, that's kinda what I was thinking... time to see some new sights, y'know?

Anyway... Dad and Henry're kinda quiet, but I don't think they'll mind the company. _{[... Or... well, hopefully Henry wouldn't go into SHOCK or something over having to travel with four rambunctious teenagers.]}

No kidding. Olivine and the surrounding areas are pretty boring by now.

Quiet or not, we'll figure out how to liven them up, right?

I don't... mind this place, but... yeah. Wanna see some other stuff before the snow sets in and I don't wanna go ANYWHERE...

_{[She spots the ice cream place he'd talked about up ahead and picks up her pace for a few steps before sort of sagging back into her more leisurely pace. Moping could take a lot out of you sometimes. But still, her grin's got a mischievous edge.]}

... Think we could finally sneak into that tower and see what the monks are hiding?

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

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