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

_{[8'I so his...world crime was a classic. AHAHAHAh ha. Oh, well, fancy that.]}

I don't know...perhaps the people in Christmas town. they'r the ones with the songs. Not us. Though we...decided to get to know one another better--all us Holidays. And everyone always gave me...you know. That look.

_{[Jack's shoulders sag a bit. It was not uncommon for Jack to siiiink down in his chair and try his best not to be seen at such a gathering. Luckily only the heads of holidays went so there was nobody from home to see that.]}

_{[At least she hasn't told you about the Hot Topic thongs, Jack. At least she hasn't done that.]}

Really?

But what about... you know, all that-- This is Halloween, this is Halloween, pumpkins scream in the dead of blah blah blah?

_{[Jack don't tell her you guys didn't have songs, yo, she always sang along with the Halloween ones, not the Christmas ones!]}

_{[Jack twitches. JUST SLIGHTLY. Just slightly. Oh god this was so surreal he didn't even.]}

Well, until a few minutes ago I thought our town was the only place that had that song.

_{[BUT AT LEAST SHE HASN'T TOLD YOU ABOUT THE THONGS.]}

I grew up with it.

Are you, uh... okay?

Sorry if I like... sprung that on ya. But to be fair, you WERE giving me that squint.

I'll be-- fine. Can you blame me?

_{[You'd drill the FUCK out of somebody who offhandedly mentioned faceless blob people on a subway train.]

[He takes his glasses off and rubs the soft spots under his eyes.]}

However, I think I feel a headache coming on...

_{[The doctor DID warn him, curiosity killed the cat...or broke its brain.]}

Yeah, uh.... mmmmy bad.

_{[SHE'S NOT REALLY SURE HOW SHE CAN MAKE IT BETTER. SORRY JACK. But yes, she would indeed grill the fuck out of somebody if they mentioned naked obese guys cruising around the A-Train.]}

_{[Jack shakes his head. Then plants a hand against it. Ow.]}

No, not your bad. I'm glad I know now.

_{[The fact that Heather still liked him after his HORRIBLE CRIME made him feel good though.]}

I... wasn't really planning on mentioning it.

I always just thought it was cool to be talking to Jack Skellington.

Ha ha, really?

_{[Jack actually manages to look all flattered-like. He may or may not have toed at the dirt with a shoe, it's hard to tell. This was different than being CRAWLED ALL OVER by fans back home.]}

Well, YEAH! I mean, come on! You're like... the king of Halloween and shit!

_{[... Yeah, no fan of his back home has probably EVER said that to him.]}

_{[....]

[SNNNKDSKDSFPPFFFT okay that caught him off guard brb snorting so hard he starts coughing.]}

... What? What's so funny?

I'm sorry! _[wheeze.] It was just the way you said it! I think I needed that.

Heh... feel better?

Yeah, I do. Thank you, Heather.

Hey, no problem.

I wouldn't wanna give a dead guy a heart attack. That'd be pretty bad.

Now that would be something to talk about! You'd be pretty legendary.

It's so strange having to be conscious of that sort of thing again.

Yeah, I'd go down in history, but not in a good way. I don't think I'd be able to live with the shame.

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

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