foolishwren | 93. [Video/Action for Cianwood Inn]

_{[Well, THAT had been fun.]

[After over a week, lots of bad weather, a few waterlogged hugs and a whole lot of flying, Heather's finally back on Cianwood, with a nurse, a mysterious young woman, a bird-obsessionist, and a magician-thief in tow.]

[She's exhausted and wants nothing more to just faceplant on the bed and let her father play host to the new additions to the 'family' (and the one returning member) for awhile... but as usual, something's come up.]

[The feed comes on from above-- she's flopped on her back on one of the hotel room's beds, hair still curly and wet from the shower she spent at least forty-five minutes in after arriving back on the island. She'd had to use an unoccupied hotel room (with Arty guarding the door to make sure no unsuspecting guest walked in on her) to do it on account of the fact that she'd been accompanied by four equally tired and dirty people who ALSO needed showers.]

[She picks tiredly at one eye, the camera wobbling above her on account of being held up with just one hand.]}

Sooo.

Yeah, I uh... was totally planning on visiting some people on the way home, but... yeah.

All that weather sort of sucked all the sociability out of everybody. Sorry, Cliff. Wish I'd made it.

_{[YEAH, she's spoiling the surprise, but hey, she can always drop in on him and Ironhide later, assuming no giant storms pop right the fuck out of nowhere like last week. Ugh.]}

But anyway, back safe and sound, nobody died, the world's still turning, chocolate and peanut butter are still an awesome combination, life goes on. Hope nobody got too battered during all that crazy apocalyptic weather.

_{[And around this point is where she'd usually turn the camera off (and maybe she intended to but is just so damn tired it slipped her mind) but the screen blurs as she rolls over, propping herself up on her elbows and resting the 'Gear against the bedspread next to her instead. Next to it are two things--]}

_{[--a battered old medallion with red marks inscribed on it... and a piece of paper. The camera's gaze only lingers on it for a second or two, but quick readers might be able to make out the words Make her suffer written in loopy handwriting before the 'Gear moves again.]

[This time, it's aimed crookedly at the side of the bed, where the somber, doberman-like face of a Houndoom is watching the off-camera Heather in silence.]}

....

Gonna have to come up with a different name for you.

_{[End feed.]}

[AUDIO // LOCKED TO COOPER]

_{[Later that night:]}

Hey, Coop.

You got a minute?

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_{[Grinning, she gives her hair a toss.]}

I haven't changed that much in five months.

_{[She gets up, the bag of marshmallows clenched in one hand, and slaps her leg.]}

Hup, Cooj!

_{[There's a minor commotion as he flails upright from where he'd been curled up between the two beds in the room and trots around over to them, tail wagging.]}

Heh, I'd be pretty disappointed if you had.

[slides off the bed and streeeetches a bit]

Yo, Cujo!

[and the Growlithe gets a few headpats]

You know me-- I don't disappoint.

_{[The Growlithe happily butts his whole body against the magician in greeting, panting, before heading over to the door. 8) WALK!]

[Heather's already heading for the stairs at the end of the hall and mulling over the idea of buying more graham crackers on the way. .... Nahhh. The beach is practically at the hotel's door and heading to the Mart would be out of their way.]}

That's why you're name is Awesome-san.

[He says matter-of-factly as he follows Heather down the hallway and towards the stairwell, chocolate and marshmallows in hand. It had been a while since he had seen Johto's beaches... it would be a nice, reminiscent night]

It sure is!

_{[The balmy early-summer weather means the doors downstairs all have screens on them, and the front one creaks as Heather elbows it open and steps out. It's not even a five-minute walk to the beach.]}

I think these beaches are even nicer than Olivine's... not as much trash.

Cianwood is kinda out of the way, isn't it? It doesn't see as much traffic.

I'd say it's no wonder the beaches are much nicer.

Yeah, I guess that makes sense.

_{[As they reach the edge of the sand, Cujo breaks off from trotting at their side and goes galloping off towards the surf to scatter a cluster of Wingulls in the surf.]}

--He'll be back.

. . .

[snicker]

Isn't he always?

Yep. I don't think I've actually spent more than a few hours without him since coming here, come to think of it.

_{[She watches the shaggy blur crash through the surf with a snort, then heads over to one of the shallow pits dug in the sand where other beachgoers had little fires going. There's still a small pile of charred driftwood from whoever was there last.]}

[Kaito walks behind her, hands linked behind his head, and as he walks a small purple blur suddenly skitters up his leg and arm, perching happily on his shoulder. The Aipom's tail swings side to side slowly, almost like a grandfather clock, across Kaito's back]

It's the same for a lot of us, isn't it? [a slightly fond smile] They really grow on you.

They really do.

_{[There are few better examples than Cujo. She'd started out hating him, after all. How things change.]

[Sitting down on one of the big driftwood logs someone had dragged around the little ditch, she picks up a stick that was probably used for toasting marshmallows at SOME point, brushing sand off of it as she looks up and grins a little at the sight of Biz on Kaito's shoulder.]}

I think he's happy to have you back.

Much as I hope he had fun with me while you were gone, it probably wasn't the same.

[Biz lets out a cheerful little chirp, and naturally, his third hand dips low towards Kaito's pocket. But the magician is ever-prepared... he snatches that hand away before it can grab anything]

Biz is lucky he has me. I dunno who else would put up with him.

[There's fondness lacing the insult, but it earns him a pout from his monkey bro anyway]

Hey, I did! _{[She leans back to playfully kick some sand at them both.]} For a little while!

_{[Around that point, a wet Cujo comes barreling back over to them, dropping the floppy remains of a shed Krabby skin in Heather's lap before shaking off vigorously.]}

--ugh. Thanks, Cujo. That's real attractive.

[He snorts in amusement and kicks some sand back at her, halfway in retaliation, and halfway to help clear some debris to start their fire]

-- hey!

[And then there is a yelp as he lifts his arms to block the water droplets spread all over the place by Cujo's vigorous shaking]

Geez... if I wanted a shower, I would've taken one before we left.

_{[Cujo shoots Kaito a happy dog grin, as though to say 'YOU'RE WELCOME!' before sitting down on Heather's foot and happily looking backwards at her for approval.]}

Yeah, you're the best fetcher. I know.

_{[She tosses his 'present' off into the sand.]}

Ugh... anyway, think we oughta drag a little more driftwood in here? The stuff that's left is pretty charred...

Sure. Think Cujo will hold still long enough to start our fire for us?

[he brushes a few water droplets from his forehead, before he kicks through the sand, searching for pieces of driftwood that would best serve as fuel for their fire]

If we put the pile together real quick, maybe.

_{[There's plenty of driftwood around, thankfully. She grabs a few chunks and tosses them onto the charred pile with that characteristic hollow clatter.]

[It's not long before they have one big enough.]}

[grins when they're done, wiping his hands on his pants and nodding towards the excitable Growlithe]

Cujo's up, then!

_{[Flopping back down on one of the big logs dragged there as seats, Heather lifts her hand to her mouth and lets out a short, sharp whistle. Cujo hadn't wandered, but he'd been snuffling at the remains of an abandoned Styrofoam container. He leaps to attention at the sound and comes wagging over to her.]}

All right, Cooj.

_{[She points at the little pile of wood.]}

Ember!

[Lifts a hand to cover his face from the heat (and any stray embers that might fly from the newly created fire) and grins]

Much better than a lighter.

Makes a lighter look like nothin'.

_{[Cujo, pleased with the attention, promptly flops down in the sand and rolls over expectantly.]

[Heather, meanwhile, is casting about for some thinner sticks to pop the marshmallows on.]}

93. [Video/Action for Cianwood Inn]

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