foolishwren | 87. [Text/Action for Ecruteak in the evening]

Current Mood: crushed
Current Location: Ecruteak City

87. [Text/Action for Ecruteak in the evening]

_{[The following is sent out network-wide.]}

[Text]

gonna be gone today

won't be back till late

if it's important leave a message and I'll get it later

[Note left on the bedside table in hotel room, for Harry Mason and Henry Townshend]

Gotta take care of something

Won't be at work.

See you guys later in time for dinner probably

-Heather

[ACTION]

_{[There's a little rec center towards the south end of Ecruteak City. Given that the town's full of old people, it doesn't see a whole lot of activity.]

[But today, someone passing by might notice a small group of Pokemon hanging out JUST inside the door-- normally Pokemon waiting for their trainer would be playing or gamboling outside in the snow, but they look unusually subdued. Butch the Quagsire and Alessa the Absol, probably recognizable to anyone who's spent a significant amount of time around Heather, are sitting in the chairs by the entrance, although they're accompanied by two new faces...]

[A babbling Wooper is cuddled up to Butch's side, and a small, purple ball of fur is nestled deep into the Absol's bristly mane, not moving aside from the occasional little shiver or reflexive squirm as Alessa lifts her head to give it a gentle nudge every so often.]

[They're Heather's Pokemon, all right-- plus two of Kaito Kuroba's, Flapper the Wooper and Biz the Aipom, and they're clearly hunkered down morosely in the front lobby of the rec center, probably waiting for Heather.]

[But... where WAS Heather?]

[Smiling.]

[At the end of the letter, he'd told her to keep smiling.]

[Well, she couldn't do that. Maybe later. Maybe in a few hours, or tomorrow. But not today. Sorry, buddy...]

[If anyone actually went into the recreation center's lobby to see why the hell Heather's Pokemon were just sitting there, waiting around, they would likely hear it-- the repeated thwak THWAK THUD of someone viciously venting their spleen on a punching bag.]

[Which is exactly what she was doing, and HAD been doing for the past god knows how many hours. She hadn't even looked outside since she'd gotten there in the morning-- for all she knew it was past dark. She didn't know and she didn't really care, either-- which actually surprised her. She'd left that note for her father and Henry specifically with the intention of guilting herself into returning when she'd told them, because hey. They'd worry.]

[That wasn't good, she knew. Getting so sucked into hitting something that she didn't even care about getting 'home' on time. That sure was a throwback to the old high school years, wasn't it.]

[But hey... she wasn't punching a wall or a tree this time.]

[That was an improvement, right...?]}

[OOC: PokeGear responses will be replied to around 10:00 at night, when Heather returns home from beating the shit out of gym equipment. 8I]

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_{[... There is something incredibly touching about that, but Heather's in no state to find accurate words for specific kinds of sentimentality.]

[Instead, she just sort of manages a small smile.]}

... I was gonna say, you don't look like the type to hang out in a gym.

... Thanks.

_{[She'd be surprised at the amount of time he's spent in gyms, actually - per Bureau guidelines, of course, but it still counts. He doesn't bring that up though, instead taps her gently on her chin in Weird Display of Affection #2 before he lets go of her.]}

With a little luck you'll feel better by morning.

_{[It's a subtle way of saying that she might want to move on home and get some rest.]}

_{[Yeah, okay, that doesn't sound like such a bad idea.]}

Yeah... maybe.

_{[It's better than saying she'll NEVER feel better, at least.]

[She pulls the towel from her shoulders and just drapes it on one end of one of the benches in the hall.]}

_{[He waits for her, then starts heading down the hallway to where her pokémon are waiting, by the looks of it still anxious about her.]

[He doesn't feel like he's got a lot more to say so for now he's really just company. He thinks she could use it, if nothing else just so she can see that not everyone have left, at least not yet.]}

_{[His presence speaks louder than words.]

[She walks silently beside him, head bowed.]

[When they arrive in the lobby, Alessa scrabbles to her feet, stiff tail wiggling. The others are more subdued-- largely because it looks like Butch and Flapper fell asleep curled up in one of the seats together, and Biz is still curled up in the Absol's mane, face buried.]}

Hey, girl...

_{[He looks to the Absol as well, comes to a stop with his hands in his pockets. He understands the significance of the dark type's name now, and he can see it, he supposes.]}

She's not the only one worried about you.

_{[He says it quietly, but it's not a reprimand. It's more like "people will be waiting for you. Keep that in mind."]}

_{[The Disaster Pokemon trots up to her and shoves her sharp muzzle into the girl's palms silently, tail still doing its sort of partial-wag.]

[Heather greets the Absol for a moment or two, equally silent, before murmuring.]}

I know.

... I left a note. For Dad and Henry. Saying I'd be back a little late.

_{[She looks back to Cooper.]}

... M'not making the same mistake I did last time.

No, I didn't think you would.

_{[Because he didn't. He looks back, remaining solidly just behind her.]}

_{[She's quiet a moment or so longer... then turns around to face him.]}

Hey, Coop?

This doesn't change anything.

All that stuff I said before about talking to people and stuff... I still know that.

I was just-- ... I just had to do this before I talked to anybody. ... Before I ... punched any walls.

You don't think I was being hy-- ... irresponsible, right?

_{[There's a genuinely concerned note in her words. SHE CARES WHAT YOU THINK, COOP.]}

_{[HE CAN TELL AND IT MAKES HIM FEEL KIND OF FLUFFY INSIDE. It's a long way from the way she used to make him angry and not give a shit about it.]

[He doesn't answer immediately, but when he does, it's sincere as always.]}

No. I think you're handling it considerably better than you did last year.

_{[Hint of a reassuring smile in his eyes, too. He does think well of her (also a bit of a change) and he knows she's learnt from the lesson she's bringing up.]}

You choose to vent your anger before you hurt someone. Or yourself. That's not irresponsible.

Nor hypocritical.

_{[AS HE SHOULD. Because... well, honestly? Not even Cybil'd quite garnered that sort of respect from Heather. Admittedly mostly because she hadn't had enough time, but. Still.]

[Although she doesn't quite look relieved at his reassurance, some of the tension does leave her stance, and she looks away again.]}

... Right. This is right. Okay.

_{[It's half to herself, although she still doesn't sound completely sure.]}

... Thanks.

It doesn't have to be right to be the better option.

_{[He noticed, of course, and doesn't hesitate to prod a little. See what he'll get.]

[It's always kind of experimental with him, after all. Not lightly so, but comfort is still not something he's used to.]}

_{[Under normal circumstances, Heather responded interestingly, or at least amusingly, to prodding.]

[Tonight, however, he's apparently lost her, because she just sort of looks up at him imploringly.]

[8( what?]}

_{[...okay. He gives her a small smile, speaks more plainly. He's not entirely sure what he's getting from her right now but he's doing his best.]}

I wouldn't recommend working yourself to exhaustion, but I don't disagree with your reasoning tonight.

_{[SHE'S TIRED AND NEEDS DUMB-PEOPLE-TALK TO UNDERSTAND THINGS, APPARENTLY.]}

... Oh. Yeah.

I don't... usually make a habit of it.

_{[But it's better than punching walls! Or crushing Pokemon eggs ahahaha.]}

... M'glad you think so, though.

_{[He nods, but doesn't say anything, just stands by for now - waiting for her to get ready and gather her pokémon. He's taken it upon himself to walk her back at this point, of course. It's a familiar thing, after all. They seem to wind up doing that after serious talks.]}

_{[It's a sort of nice 'tradition'.]

[Wordlessly she returns Butch and Flapper to their Pokeballs (being amphibians, a walk home through the snow probably wouldn't be very enjoyable). Alessa stays out, her coat is winter-thick and suited to the harsh cold. Biz, she removes from Alessa's mane and bundles him in her coat, which she doesn't put on just yet. She's overheated as hell and the cold air seems welcoming.]

[She dumps the towel on the counter because fuck the police she's not putting it back. If she goes back in there... she might be there another four hours.]}

... You coming?

Yes.

_{[He steps around her to open the door and hold it for her, but will let her lead the way through the snow.]}

_{[Subdued, she leads the way out with the Absol padding behind her.]

[It's likely to be a very quiet walk back.]}

_{[Cooper doesn't mind and will let it be what it is. Sometimes silence is more important.]}

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87. [Text/Action for Ecruteak in the evening]

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