foolishwren | 96. [Accidental Video/Action for Ecruteak] BACKDATED TO THE 22ND

_{[Chaotic and occasionally-accidental videos have become a relatively frequent occurrence during the outbreak, and this video is really no different in that aspect.]

[The feed comes to life in a chaotic jumble that makes it clear that the 'Gear was bumped or jostled into turning on-- no amateur-but-deliberate filming of Pokemon attacking action figures this time around. It does, however, come to a brief halt as the carrier pauses.]}

_{[Sunny the Togekiss peers sorrowfully down from the outdoor-rafters she's perched on, apparently refusing to come down.]}

-ny!

SUNNY!

Get the HELL down-- oh my god, you know what?

Forget it.

FORGET IT.

Forget it.

Fucking BIRD.

_{[The screen whirls and and all image coherency disappears in a swirl of bouncing sky and trees. The WHACK WHACK WHACK of the mic hitting the other contents of Heather's bag as it swings at her side destroy most of the audibility too, but snippets of voices come through-- Heather's and someone else's. People who are familiar with her and the people she travels with will recognize it as her father Harry Mason.]}

Heath--r please be reason-- just stop for a moment and think ab-- you don't need to d-- let it g--

No. NO. She--

I don't CARE if she's not g-- to-- I'm going--- do what I should have done in t-- --ace!

--L MASON--

_{[The thumping stops as Heather apparently stops and spins on her heel. As she does so, the camera's view once again settles, offering an off-kilter perspective view of her from roughly waist-level. She's been staying away from the network as much as possible as the effects of the strange outbreak started to hit her hard, and now it's fairly evident why: dark, scorched-looking splotches have spread across every inch of skin like burns-- and where they crack, bright, veinlike lines like something molten spread. Her hair is smoky and black.]}

I am NOT losing you again, Dad!

_{[And then, after that raspy, croaky scream, she whirls again and keeps going. The feed times out at some point, after a lot of jumbled sounds as other voices join the apparent debate.]}

[OOC: Cooooonteeeeeext. Replies over the 'Gear will likely be ICly delayed and/or limited.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Apology might not be enough.

In Crow's opinion, no, it can't wait, because judging by Harry's reaction, Heather must be out to do something stupid.]

Well, too late. Care to enlighten me, or do I need to go there personally?

_{[It probably won't be. But in this instance... well, Heather's a little beyond the 'Friends come first' mentality she usually stands by.]}

I'm taking care of a little problem from home and unless they're helping, it's nobody's goddamn business but mine.

[Don't worry, Heather, you'll have plenty of time to re-think that after he spits his buttrage fueled friendship speech at you.]

That's cool then, since I'm all for helping. What's the deal?

_{[Y-yeah, she... will....]}

I'm taking care of a problem from home.

You said as much. So how do I help you with that?

_{[The reply comes after a brief hesitation.]}

Sunny won't take me.

I need a bird.

She won't...?

[That's weird. He can't really think of a reason why Sunny would not want to take Heather anywhere... but that's not important right now.]

Well, that ain't a problem. We can go with my birds.

_{[Neither can Heather-- but that would be because she hasn't actually looked up the Pokedex entry on Togekiss recently. Namely, the part where no Togekiss will fly where there's strife.]}

There's no we.

You can help by letting me fly one of yours.

But you're not coming.

[He scowls and shakes his head.]

As if I'm letting you go alone.

_{[She has to bite her tongue not to snap.]}

Crow, I appreciate you being there for me when I was really hurtin'.

But this isn't the same.

It's between me and her.

And I don't want anyone else around to gawk at my business while I take care of it.

[This is starting to remind him of one of the times when Yuusei would try to go off alone, justifying it with vague "it's my fight" and "I don't want to get you involved". When will his friends finally come to terms with the fact Crow isn't that easy to leave behind?]

What kinda lame friend would I be if I left you on your own now?

Left me on my o-- Crow, this isn't like when Kaito disappeared.

This isn't like those other times when I needed somebody.

This is my business and I don't want anyone gawking at my life like it's a fucking spectacle.

If you're a real friend, you'll help me get where I need to go and then stay away.

Wha-- Heather, I'm not making a spectacle of anything!

[Honestly, hearing that she even thinks he could hurts a bit, as does the implication that he's not a real friend for wanting to be by her side.]

Look, you sure sound like it's some big deal, so as your friend, I want to-- I will have your back!

_{[Sorry Crow, she's... she's gonna hurt a lot of people before this is over.]}

YES, it's a BIG DEAL and it's also private.

You don't follow me into the bathroom to hold my hand while I shower, so I'm gonna assume that friends where you come from know how to respect privacy!

--You know that's not what I'm talking about!

[Crow sounds irritated, yes, because this sort of conversation shouldn't even be taking place, but it's for the same reason that he also looks... slightly baffled and confused. All of this came out of nowhere (from his point of view, at least) and he has honestly no idea what to think about it.]

It's one thing to have personal stuff, but you can't just turn your back and leave without even saying anything and expect us to be okay with it!

_{[It really DID come from nowhere... especially since Heather didn't really tell many people what the deal with Claudia was the first time she was here, or that their situations were even related.]

[She'll feel bad for it later. Hell, even feels bad for it now-- but getting to Claudia is the primary objective right now and everything standing between her and that is an obstacle.]}

That's why I am saying something! I'm telling you that I've got personal shit to deal with and I don't want anyone following me along and preaching at me!

You can have a person's back without clinging to it, you know! I told you how you could help me.

So either do that or stay out of my way.

Yeah? And would you've told us if Sunny did want to take off with you?

[He bites his lip, obviously struggling with the decision. He hates refusing to help a friend, he hardly ever does -- but Crow could tell from the feed it's no ordinary issue they're dealing with here and, judging by Harry's reaction alone, helping Heather out could only make things worse...

The duelist lets out a sigh and shakes his head.]

... Sorry, Heather. Not this time.

Not like this.

_{[She doesn't have an answer for that. Because she wouldn't have said anything. She'd have just left. As much for them as she would have for herself, admittedly, but still.]

[There's a cold silence.]}

Then I'm sorry.

_[Click.]

96. [Accidental Video/Action for Ecruteak] BACKDATED TO THE 22ND

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