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.]}

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[He doesn't enjoy this tone. Putting the notebook down. Voice wary.]

...Cheryl.

_{[... aw man he always knows when something like this is coming. :(]

[All the same, she puts on her best winning smile.]}

Soooo, there's this thing going on back in Goldenrod and I kiiiiinda wanna sign up for it... _{[kiiiiinda ALREADY signed up for it]}

It's only like... a few days long.

Really.

....What sort of thing?

[Dad sensors are on high alert.]

It's like a contest, sorta.

_{[DODGING THE TRUTH AS LONG AS SHE CAN.]}

I need more information abut that.

_{[... DAMMIT.]

[Trying not to let her face fall too much (he was gonna find out one way or another, after all), she passes the flyer over. It says about what you'd expect-- that it's a sparring tournament, no overly dangerous weapons allowed, etc.]

[Knowing that she needs to just let him read it without interrupting (lest she damage her chances), Heather just clasps her hands behind her back and waits.]}

[Looking at it....Reading...

.....looking over.]

A fighting tournament.

[....dear]

_{[ARGH DON'T GIVE HER THE LOOK HARRY.]}

Just a little one!

[Yes.]

A little one?

A pretty little one.

_{[It was only, you know, nation-wide.]}

C'mon, Dad! It'd be fine, see, look, no deadly weapons allowed and everything.

....But normal weapons are?

Well, I mean, there's weapons in like... fencing. And kendo. You know!

_{[It's not going to be like fencing. It's going to be people beating each other with sticks.]}

And what are you going to be using?

Iiiieee.... have a wooden sword?

.....Cheryl

C'mon, Dad!

What can THIS place throw at me that Silent Hill didn't?

_{[... ASIDE FROM GIANT SPACE ROBOTS.]}

[....why is this his life.]

You're going to do it anyway, aren't you.

....alright. But you have to promise me you won't do anything reckless.

_{[Because you decided to adopt a baby you found on the side of the road. Seriously, Harry, you don't know where that's been! NOW look at it!]

[A grateful grin spreads across Heather's face and she bows her head, clasping her hands in a display of total responsibility.]}

I promise! No recklessness. If this were Lent, I'd be giving UP recklessness. That's how serious I am.

[Nope.....still no regrets.]

Alright....but I'll be holding you to that.

_{[GRIN.]

[And then she throws her arms around him in a hug.]}

You're the best, Dad!

[He sighs and shakes his head.]

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

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