foolishwren | 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]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

_{[She actually falls silent for a moment, just sort of leaning into the hug and thinking about that.]

[Then, after a little while, her eyes flick back up to Harry.]}

... When did you notice...?

_{[W-WAS IT SUPER OBVIOUS...?]}

When we were all travelling together.

Oh...

_{[She goes ahead and lets her face hide against his coat again, because it's gone a little red.]

[She thought she'd been GOOD at keeping it a secret. WHOOPS.]}

Don't worry. I wasn't planning on talking to him just then.

[Possibly later.]

_{[Despite herself, she lets out a very weak giggle.]}

... I don't think you had anything to worry about, Daddy...

_{[And she's a little grateful that none of his gun collection came with him to Johto now.]}

Better safe then sorry. Besides, I'm not that scary am I?

[A teasing tone. Nope, not scary at all. He'd just be causally holding a stick the entire time.]

_{[And occasionally tapping it against his palm meaningfully.]}

You're pretty scary when you wanna be.

[Nothing scary about that at all.]

I have no idea what you're talking about.

I'm pretty sure you're like half the reason no boys talked to me in middle-school after meeting you once.

We just talked.

Briefly.

Yeah, and then you insisted on handing me my coat so you'd have an excuse to subtly open the closet where you keep all your guns hanging.

Just a coincidence I'm sure.

Yeah. Sure. Right. A coincidence.

Exactly. Not at all planned in anyway.

I don't believe you at all.

Are you doubting your father young lady?

Not just doubting.

I'm pretty sure you're a liar, liar, pants-on-fire.

Now there. There's no need for name calling.

I'll call as many names as I like, thank you very much.

_{[But all the same, she does become a little more subdued. As much as she'd like to keep things lighthearted, the loss she suffered today can't be kept at bay for too long.]}

... If I'd-- ... if he had felt the same way, you'dve been nice to him, though, right Dad?

[He smiles softly. Scare him yes, be mean, no.]

Of course.

_{[She thinks about that for a few moments-- then nods.]

[It's not something she really thought was gonna happen. But... well.]

[Good to know that if it HAD...]}