foolishwren | 79. [Video/Action] Backdated to the morning of October 1st!

_{[So what's the best thing for someone who's been spending their time alternately fretting and pretending not to be fretting over circumstances well beyond their control?]

[A) More fretting
B) Meditation
C) A DISTRACTION]

[If anyone answered anything other than C, they're either very silly, or Cooper.]

[Heather is neither (.... okay, maybe she's the former quite often), so needless to say... when the posters for the Johto-wide fighting tournament going on in Goldenrod City hit the streets, they were the first thing to catch her eye. In fact, anyone spending any amount of time with her in person has probably noticed the way she's been stopping in the middle of whatever she was doing every single time she passes one of the damn things to look at it contemplatively, with a cocked head and a sort of half-wistful, half-devilish look in her eye.]

[As such, nobody whatsoever should be surprised when she pops up on the network on the day of signups ending with one of the flyers in hand. She'd been waffling on account of the fact that her father was sure do disapprove, but... man, she's been spoiling for something like this for months, and she's got... more than a little steam to blow off. Steam that isn't always so easy to blow off in a world where society expects you to resolve all your conflicts by letting animals do your fighting for you.]}

YO Johto, what's the happs?

_{[She grins broadly and then flourishes the poster at the screen.]}

Guys. Guys. Look.

Look at this.

Best thing ever, or BEST thing ever?

Who else's gonna sign up?

I'M gonna. ... Assuming the puppy-eyes work on Dad, I guess. They're a little rusty but I was once the puppy-eyes champion so I should be okay. And for anybody weirded out by the surreal idea of ME doing puppy-eyes, ask yourselves this: how ELSE could I have gotten away with all the crazy crap you totally know I got up to as a kid?

_{[A sly, knowing nod.]}

Yeah, makes more sense now, doesn't it.

ANYWAY.

_{[Another flourish of the poster.]}

So if any of you are planning on being in this thing, gimme a shout! I wanna size up the competition and stuff. ... And also, transportation? I'm in Ecruteak, so... if anyone's in the area, I guess we could carpool, or something? _{[She's not opposed to the idea of leaping on a strange Pidgeot if she HAS TO, buuuuut...]} I mean, the Tournament isn't supposed to LAST too long, so I'm guessin' we'd all only be gone for like... what, a week or two at most? Then I'd be headed back to Ecruteak because seriously, nice place.

Anyway... _{[She trails off, eyes flicking off to the side of the screen.]} I'd better go convince Dad that I won't die if I do this. _{[Eyes back to the screen, she gives a somber, soldier-like nod and salutes solemnly.]} Wish me luck, my people.

_{[BOOP. End feed.]

[TIME TO GO FIND DAD.]}

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I can fist-fight in a pinch, but I gotta admit, I love me some weapons.

_{[Guess who's excited about being able to use some? She's not bothered by the nonlethal aspect-- Heather's always been a 'use whatever's around' sort of person. It's amazing how much damage you can do with something that to most people would seem completely harmless.]}

Gotta admit, I ain't never fought nobody who was usin' weapons before, so, uh, yeah, I'm kinda nervous about the whole thing. Plus, I ain't never fought no girls before. Kinda hope I won't have to.

... What afraid we'll kick your ass?

_{[Her tone is teasing.]}

Because if that's the case, your worries are justified, hah!

Whaaat? Nah, I ain't afraid o' that! Heh heh, I, uh, y'know, just don't wanna end up hurtin' nobody, y'know?

Soooo... you're sayin' a girl would get hurt if she fought with you?

What, so... guys are like, magically immune? You'd go to punch them and like, hit an invisible wall?

_{[SHE'S MOSTLY TEASIN'. Chivalry is cute even if she thinks it's pretty pointless.]}

Wha- No, I didn't mean...!

_{[Welcome to the Backpedal Express! This is your conductor, Mac. He's just trying to figure out what exactly it is he's trying to say here.]}

See, it's like, uh...I'm a pro boxer. So I like, hit real hard. And not everybody is used to gettin' hit real hard n' stuff! So, I just...see, it's like...

_{[Give him a second to kind of...put his thoughts into a coherent format.]}

Well, guys ain't 'sposed to hit girls, right?! Hittin' dudes is just easier to do, y'know?!

_{[The grin grows as he flounders.]}

All right, all right, don't hurt yourself.

Listen, for the record, there's no way on this green earth you can hit as hard as some of the things that've hit me before, so if we wind up against each other, I want you to give it your all, okay?

_{[While he's still a little iffy on the whole fighting girls thing...Mac can definitely get where Heather's coming from. He wouldn't want anyone going easy on him in a fight either.]}

Awright. If I end up goin' up against ya, I won't pull any punches!

That's the spirit!

_{[NOT TO WORRY, MAC. If you WERE fighting Heather, she'd give you a run for your money!]}

79. [Video/Action] Backdated to the morning of October 1st!

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