foolishwren | 78. [Video/Action for Ecruteak Inn]

Current Mood: contemplative
Current Location: Ecruteak City Inn

78. [Video/Action for Ecruteak Inn]

_{[It's a fairly common occurrence for Godzilla the Totodile to hijack Heather's 'Gear-- he's sort of had an affinity for filming ever since he first hatched, after all. But apart from his one little act of philanthropy a few weeks back, he's actually been surprisingly absent for the most part, at least in the sense that he hasn't been filming with the 'Gear much, with or without permission.]

[But TODAY when Heather's feed fizzles on, it's not the blond trainer but instead the little blue crocodile Pokemon.]

[His pebbled brows are furrowed, though, and ... are those BAGS under his eyes? Is it even possible for reptiles to GET bags under their eyes? Is Heather just rubbing off on him or what?]

[He seems to be sitting on the little balcony outside his trainer's room at the Ecruteak Inn, stubby legs dangling off the edge between the rail bars. Ecruteak is a quiet town at night, and as such there's none of the loud nightlife that characterizes many late-night city posts. Just crickets, and the occasional sound of people or Pokemon moving about in the brightly-lit room behind him.]

[It's a moment or two before he actually says anything, but the look in his red eyes is deeper and more contemplative than the normally self-centered little animal usually has.]}

... What do you have to do to be a good Pokemon?

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[He actually opens his mouth to say something else when she pulls him in for a surprise hug. He stares at a spot on the wall from over her shoulder in surprise, arms stiff at his sides as he tries to regain his bearings.

He picks up on the concern lacing her words, despite the lightly teasing nature, and finally relaxes a bit]

Was busy. [... he had a million excuses cooked up before he returned to Ecruteak, and that's the best he can do at the moment?] That's all.

_{[It's a far more awkward hug than any she's given him in the past months. But... well, she doesn't blame him. He's probably not in a particularly huggy mood. All the same, she gives him a last squeeze before letting go, letting her arms drop back to her sides.]}

... I know it's not.

_{[Did you think she was going to play along with your feigned apathy, Kaito? Because if so, you were wrong. She wouldn't have, even if you HAD brought out one of those million unused excuses.]

[But all the same, she doesn't wanna... grill him the moment he gets in, so she sort of shakes her head a little, interjecting quickly in hopes of cutting off any argument on his part.]}

You need help carrying anything upstairs?

_{[She knew he'd left most of his stuff behind, but...]}

[It is a bit awkward... but as she pulls away, he lifts his hands up to grab her elbows gently, preventing her from pulling away too much.

... he actually doesn't try to protest when she tells him that she realizes there was more to his absence than just 'busyness,' and the grin he gives her is a bit lopsided and much less fake]

No. But you can come upstairs anyway, if you wanna.

_{[Well, that's sure better than what she was expecting-- she already remembers his tendency to withdraw from last time something like this happened... when Kay and Johan disappeared. So the fact that he's at least not pushing her away is a good sign in Heather's eyes.]

[She smiles back. The concern's still there, but mostly she's just glad he's back.]}

Can't think of any particular reason I wouldn't wanna.

Is Crow back, too?

_{[She hadn't actually known he'd gone to Goldenrod as well, at first. That's what she got for flopping down and passing the hell out as soon as she'd gotten to her own inn room on that day.]}

[He nods, glancing back to he desk as he does so]

Yeah. We came back together. [Truthfully, Crow hadn't really left him alone at all during the past few days... which was probably good for Kaito] He should be hanging around this place somewhere.

I'll have to hunt him down later.

_{[... But for now, she was sticking with Kaito. He's the one she was worried about.]

[She looks over at the desk, as well, tilting her head.]}

Have they not given you the key yet?

[a scoff]

Not yet. They're trying to find an empty room.

... Ugh.

Y'know, if they take forever, you can always just stay with us until one opens up.

I don't think Dad or Henry'd mind.

_{[They'd had the whole trip to get used to them, after all.]}

Is there enough room for Crow, too?

It might be a tight squeeze, but as long as we don't hold any wild rumpus parties in there, I think it should work. _{[She can't imagine it taking longer than a couple days for there to be an opening, anyway-- besides, with Aoko gone and their room technically vacant, Heather and her gang were probably the ones watching over Kaito and Crow's stuff while they were gone anyway.]}

If you guys don't mind sharing a bed, you can have mine.

There's plenty of room for me to put down another sleeping bag next to Henry's.

_{[NOT OFFERING TO SHARE A BED WITH EITHER OF THEM because that would be awkward. And also Harry would put his foot down so hard it'd probably smash through the floor and into the room on the floor below them.]}

[Kaito snorts and pulls away, reaching down to hoist his bag over his shoulder]

You don't have to give up your bed for us, y'know. I'll take the couch and Crow will be perfectly fine sleeping on the floor.

[:D]

Pffft, I don't mind.

Anyway, people on the floor are ten times more likely to get Cujo's tongue in their ear at some point during the night or the morning, so it's just part of being a responsible owner that I take the fall for you guys there.

_{[She starts heading over to the stairs.]}

Responsible, huh. What would we do without you, Heather?

[following]

You'd be screwed, that's what.

_{[She says this in a perky, cheerful tone, of course.]

[This inn doesn't have as many floors as many of the others do, so it's not long before they get to the room.]}

Go ahead and dump your stuff, we can send a message to Crow or something telling him to come here when he gets in from... wherever he went.

[dropping his stuff on the bed and flopping over it tiredly. faceplant into the pillow, aaaw yeah]

_{[... Boy does he look beat.]

[The smile she'd been wearing (which admittedly'd had a little forced upbeatness) softens a bit and she sits down at the foot of the bed.]}

Hey, at least kick your shoes off first if you're gonna pass out!

[He tilts his head to the side to give her a one-eyed Look, before he toes off his shoes and faceplants into the pillows again]

_{[... Yeah y'know maybe she shouldn't get on his case about Aoko until he's had a chance to sleep.]

[She leans over a bit to plant a hand in his hair and ruffle it soundly before getting up, with a creak of bedpsrings as her weight leaves the mattress.]}

If you wanna sleep, I'll try to make sure everybody stays quiet when they get back.

[ajdspof he lifts a hand to swat at her hair ruffling with a muffled grumble, then tilts his head to the side again so she can understand him]

Not tired. [very tired] Don't wanna sleep.

_{[.... WELL CLEARLY THAT'S JUST INCENTIVE TO RUFFLE IT MORE--]}

Really.

Y'look tired.

[SWAT.

rolling over onto his back and covering his head with this hands]

Just wanted to sit down.

_{[Once he does that, she goes ahead and sits down again, this time next to him.]}

All right, fair 'nuff.

_{[... A slight pause. There really isn't a way to gracefully ease into this sort of thing, was there.]}

... So, uh.

How you doin'?

[... nope, not really. His demeanor doesn't change much when she asks, though. He merely links his hands behind his head]

'M fine. What about you?

_{[Okay. Time for serious.]

[Leaning on one arm, she twists around a little bit so she can look down at him.]}

Probably doing better than you are right now, considering.

_{[That's it. No beating around the bush, no accusation of lying... just a simple statement that confirms that she doesn't believe that he's fine in the slightest.]}

[exhale]

... I've had a lot of time to think about it. 'S fine now. I promise.

[No, it isn't, but he can pretend it is]

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