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

Tigers can't change their stripes, Smiley.

I just gotta be me.

[snort] Let a free bird spread it's wings, right?

Knock 'em dead, Heather.

_{[That gets a bright, genuine grin.]}

You know, I think I'll do just that.

_{[Then, leaning against the back of the chair she'd been seated in (the video was filmed from the hotel lobby), she pushes herself away from the table a little bit.]}

I think it'll only last a few days at most, so... I won't be gone too long. I wanna visit Rise while I'm there but that's pretty much it. No sightseeing.

Not literally, I hope.

[a beat] It's in Goldenrod, right?

Mhm.

Or, well, the National Park, specifically, but I'm guessing everybody's gonna STAY in Goldenrod overnight...

_{[She pauses a moment, then offers a smile.]}

Wanna come?

[his grin widens]

Sure! I can cheer you on from the sidelines. 'S not usually my style, but fighting isn't, either.

_{[The smile turns to a wide beam as she scoots back from the table she'd been sitting at and gets up, rolling her shoulders.]}

Don't worry, I can do enough fighting for the both of us!

Does this mean you'er going to dedicate some of your matches to me?

I could do that!

_{[Just watch, the match she'll dedicate to him will be the one where Ironhide drops her off the side of the platform.]}

[LUCKY HIM]

Just make sure you win it, all right?

PSSSH, what do you take me for, some kinda loser?

I'm gonna take this thing by storm!

_{[... and get dropped off the side of the platform by a space robot.]}

[... Kaito will laugh]

That's the spirit! Don't disappoint, Awesome-san!

_{[And that will be okay, because she will deserve to be laughed at. ... and might even find it pretty funny herself once her bruised ego heals.]}

Me? Disappoint?

_{[She throws a casual arm around his shoulders, making an airy gesture with one hand.]}

I think you might have me mixed up with a different Awesome-san if you think that's even a remote possibility.

[snort]

I'll hold you to those words, heh.

Since when have my words EVER failed to be anything but gospel truth?

[amused]

I'll give you that one this time.

Good man.

_{[And she claps him on the shoulder.]}

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

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]

[action]