foolishwren | 97. [Action for Goldenrod/Private Text]

97. [Action for Goldenrod/Private Text]

[Locked to Ironhide, Minnie Mouse, Otacon, and Dale Cooper]

I don't know if it'll fix anything at this point, because I said some pretty horrendous things to all of you, but for what it's worth, I'm sorry.

I'll understand if you're still mad. None of you need to reply to this.

[Action for Goldenrod]

_{[It's probably not surprising that there's been radio silence from Heather on the 'Gear for awhile, considering... well, everything. Even if she hadn't had her 'Gear confiscated as part of the 'grounding', she hadn't exactly been in a chatty mood.]

[But even if she's bound to the city, she's not bound to the hotel room, and considering that she's sort of in the doghouse at the moment, she's not too interested in staying cooped up with the people who are rightfully upset with her.]

[So she can be found wandering the streets of Goldenrod City with Cujo padding along at her side, window-shopping or occasionally lounging on a bench-- minus the firepowers that blew the metaphorical Diglett-hole into a volcanic mountain a few weeks ago, but unfortunately still with the unattractive aftereffects of the whole ordeal: smoky black hair, patches of scorched-looking skin, and a permanent burnt-toast smell following her around.]}

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[It's enough of an invitation for Crow, who now flops down on the bench silently. Putting the soda can between them, he focuses on another one in his other hand, taking slow sips from it and staring off into the distance.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity to him, Crow lets out a heavy sigh and speaks up.]

So. Are we never gonna talk to each other for the rest of our lives, or can we spare ourselves the drama and go back to normal now?

_{[They can both stare into the distance together, because neither seems quite willing to look at the other.]}

... To be honest, I'm a little sick of getting lectured, so if that's the sort of talk you had in mind, forget about it.

_{[She doesn't sound angry or resentful so much as just tired and morose, though.]}

[Crow frowns, not pleased with the response he got. Even if Heather doesn't seem angry, it still implies she expects him to do nothing but preach at her, which is as far from his current intentions as only possible. It's rather hard to reach out to her after all of this, and that comment doesn't make it any easier.]

... I'm not here to lecture you.

[No, he's here to... do what, exactly? He didn't have anything specific to say on mind when walking up to her; it's just that for the past few weeks, it's felt like he lost a friend, and he honestly misses her.]

Look, I'm not gonna ask what that was all about. If you thought it was worth ditching your family and friends and running off, then I'm gonna assume it was really damn important, even if I don't get it.

[He doesn't mean to hurt her with those words. He doesn't sound spiteful or even annoyed, he's merely stating the facts.]

... I'm just tired of the silent treatment.

[That includes both giving and receiving it.]

_{[In turn, Heather has to internalize a sour look at 'ditching your family and friends and running off'. The theft had been unpardonable, yes, but it hadn't been like she wasn't going to come back.]}

... Honestly, what is there to talk about.

M'pretty sure you wouldn't get it if I tried to explain because there's no real way to explain, and it's too friggin' awkward to talk about the weather after I stole your Pokemon and you all came after me like I was planning a suicide. _{[Because planning a murder was so much better, yeah.]}

I'm not doing the silent treatment thing because I hate any of you.

[... Well, so far, this conversation is taking turn into a direction exactly opposite from what he hoped it would. Honestly, to Crow, the theft part was an inconvenience. Annoying, yes, but still nothing in light of the fact Heather basically shut off all of them and ran away. That hurt much more than having his Pokémon stolen. But more than anything he just wishes for things to go back to how they were.

And yet, it seems to him like out of two of them, the duelist is the only one interested in that.

He snorts at her response, still refusing to look at her.]

Right. 'Course someone like me wouldn't get it.

[It's probably not hard to notice his voice has grown much more irritated and snide since just a moment ago; perhaps it's not a good time and place to take things personally, but Crow can't help feeling a little offended with his friend's words.]

So sorry you were bothered by us going after you, but you kinda forgot to mention you were just going for a walk. [The suicide part isn't even funny, because while it might not have looked exactly like that, watching a close person act the way she did would make anyone worry.]

And that's good to know, I was beginning to wonder 'bout that.

That's not what I meant and you know it.

_{[Her voice is flat, but she heaves a sigh and rakes her fingers through her hair.]}

Look, I can't explain it. I can't explain it in a way that would even remotely make sense to anybody but me. Or her. ... Maybe not even that. _{[Because by god, before she'd even thrown a punch she had tried to talk to Claudia one last time. Tried to make her understand, despite all previous determination to show up and just kill the bitch. ... And she still hadn't.]}

I just wanted to get it over with. I didn't want help. I didn't want anyone else wrapped up in it.

I just wanted to fucking do it so that everything could go back to normal.

That's all.

[To be quite honest, no, he doesn't get the part where she's so sure he wouldn't understand to the point she's not even gonna bother trying to explain what she did. The duelist is almost tempted to point out how very well her logic worked out, but bites his tongue. After all, he said he wasn't here to lecture her, a promise he intends to keep -- if only to prove she was wrong by assuming he'd do that in the first place.]

Mhm.

[A simple, almost dismissive response -- but frankly, having no clue what she's talking about, he doesn't feel any need to contribute to the subject. And again, he said he wouldn't ask. So if that really is all Heather has to say, then so be it.

Crow throws his head back and for a moment just stares at the sky without a word.]

... And what exactly is stopping things from going back to normal now?

_{[It's a pretty classic case of 'It's not you it's me', except that Heather means it seriously. There aren't words for what she'd be trying to describe. ... Or... well... there are words for it. They're just not words she wants anybody to hear. Too personal.]

[She lets out a dismissive sound of her own at his, arms folded.]}

... I don't know. Do you?

[The question actually gets a slightly amused snerk out of Crow. She's asking him that?]

Dunno. Maybe you being a stubborn brat?

[Surprisingly enough, he doesn't sound like he wants to offend her with that. In fact, his tone has shifted to something more... endearing? Close to it, anyway.

At long last, he turns his head to look at Heather, his face no longer reflecting the annoyance and uneasiness that was present there when he first approached her. Instead, he's giving her a somewhat weary, but definitely genuine smile.]

... Though I guess that goes for both of us.

_{[When she looks at him, at first it's with a hard expression. She's spent most of this whole ordeal being defensive, ready to hurl peoples' arguments back at them at a split second's notice. But at the sight of his expression, she softens, herself (though she doesn't smile) and looks away, again.]}

Yeah. It does.

[Seeing her drop the hard look, even if just by a bit, makes him feel sort of... relieved. It's like a wall that grew between them thanks to that entire incident has finally begun to crumble. Which is good enough for now.

Crow picks up the unopened soda can that's been lying on the bench this entire time and stretches his arm in Heather's direction with an unspoken offer, though his attention goes back to his own drink.]

C'mon, I ain't thirsty enough to drink it all by myself.

_{[Wordlessly, she reaches over and takes the can, popping the tab with her thumb. It's a thoughtful peace offering, because even if Crow doesn't know it, ever since coming down with the 'superpower-sickness', Heather's found herself thirsty almost constantly.]}

... I'm sorry.

For taking your Pokemon.

[Ah. An apology. One he didn't hope for, given the recent silence on both ends, and that he certainly could have lived without, but now that it's been said, it becomes rather obvious it was exactly what was necessary for Crow to forget there was some wall between them in the first place. Still, the duelist folds his arms in an attempt to actually look irritated, which almost works -- now if he could just stop looking so goddamn happy...]

You better be! What the hell was that?! I never expected you to go that far! I thought I was gonna lose it!

[To be honest, he kind of did, but never mind that -- he doesn't seem angry anymore, after all. And besides, he's always been willing to forgive others a lot of things, often far worse than what she's done, provided they recognize they'd made a mistake. Which is why he waves his hand dismissively with a smile.]

... Eh, whatever. Most important is that you're back now!

_{[She lets out a weak chuckle, herself. Because yeah, uh, she still feels really bad about it.]}

If it makes any difference, I was... really hoping you'd just lend me one and ask questions later.

_{[She'd been desperate.]

[She leans back after taking a deep swig of the soda.]}

... Anyway, I won't do it again. Lesson learned...

Y'know, maybe I would've if you hadn't looked like you were about to set an entire city on fire -- and we both know that wasn't impossible in your condition back then.

[Which is to say he was worried she could get hurt or worse on her little escapade and-- does Heather even realize how he would feel if something happened to her and he had helped her in that?]

... That's good.

[Really good. It calms him down a great deal, knowing that she won't be disappearing like that again...]

Not that you could. [Well, doesn't that last line sound overly smug...] None of my birds will be taking ya anywhere without my personal consent anymore.

_{[She does, but she'd rather her friends feel bad than get caught in the crossfire of a feud that goes back two lifetimes. ... Or find out about her past like that...]}

Pretty sure they won't even let me TOUCH them anymore.

_{[That's said wryly.]}

... Anyway, it was personal.

I know I was being a shithole but I do stand by what I said before.

It's not something I wanted any of you to see.

Ever.

[And Crow would much rather get caught in whatever crap that was than let one of his friends get hurt, of course.]

Good point.

[Especially after he bitched Hurricane out in front of them for taking off with Heather. Not that it was the bird's fault, but Crow completely lost his temper at the time. So yes, chances are all of them will stay as far away from her as only possible.]

Yeah, yeah, I know. I heard you fine the first time.

[Back when you were yelling at him over the 'Gear. He's not deaf, after all.]

... Did you at least solve your problem?

_{[The neverending cycle of friendship drama, at its finest.]

[Heather puffs out a slight sigh. As though she hadn't felt bad enough over it all, it had been pretty hard to listen to Crow yell at his Pokemon. It really hadn't been the Pidgeot's fault, after all.]

[At first she doesn't answer-- it's something she does sometimes, when she can't readily think of an answer, and sometimes it almost looks like she's IGNORING the other party. But she's not, and that becomes apparent when she replies a moment or so later.]}

... No.

[My Little Johto: Friendship is Suffering.

No, it hadn't been, which is why, having calmed down a bit, Crow apologized to the bird and decided not to ground him. He's not heartless, after all.

Heather's response is met with more silence on his end. The duelist was sort of hoping she'd say "yes" and they could consider the case closed once and for all, but apparently, no such luck. Now that he thinks about it, given her behavior since they'd caught up with her, the answer to his question was probably obvious...

Crow scratches the back of his head, staring at the ground.]

... At least you gave it a shot.

... Heh. Guess that's one way of looking at it...

_{[She reaches up to scrub some of the hair out of her face, resting the cool exterior of the soda can against her face as she does so.]

[She hadn't solved anything at all. Maybe-- MAYBE-- in lieu of killing her, some of what she'd SAID had gotten through to Claudia. But then again, she'd sort of thought it had last time, too... and then Claudia had come back more steady in her convictions than ever.]}

... I guess there's no real way I could have made it any WORSE than it already was...

[Crow doesn't answer for a moment, though not because he's trying to come up with the ways Heather could have made it worse (even if he could probably think of at least 10 examples) -- instead, he takes a moment to reflect upon something that's been bothering him since their talk (or perhaps "argument" would fit better) over the network, along with some other thing he heard from different people in the past few weeks.

"Perhaps the fire does bring her some memories..."

"They always manage to get in our lives someway."

That person.

This problem.

They.

It.

People with no faces, situations with no context -- all of that leaves Crow completely and utterly lost. It kind of frustrates him, doubly so that not knowing what's going on means he can't help a friend, as it has already been proved not too long ago. He wouldn't, of course, want to try to force Heather to confess her whole past to him or anything -- something like that has never crossed his mind -- but if you look at the greater picture, then...]

... Hey.

[Crow turns to face her now, his voice quiet and calm -- perhaps unusually so -- but still bearing faint traces of fatigue.]

Remember how you've once told me I don't talk too much 'bout myself? Come to think of it, you don't, either. I mean--

[His tone changes completely: it's much more lively and light-hearted now, but rather hasty, judging by the speed with which he spits out the next few sentences.]

I've known you for what, a year and a half? Probably longer than that. And I don't even know when your birthday is! Or what your favorite food is. Or favorite color. Or hobby. Or--

[He finally makes a pause to breathe, though it comes off more like another sigh.]

... anything, really.

_{[She looks up at that, surprised and a little disarmed by the observation. She's almost ready to open her mouth and deny it (it's a... habit she's fallen into lately, for obvious reasons), but ... well, he's right. He's very right.]

[So instead she rubs her head, a rueful frown crossing her face.]}

... Yeah. I'm.... I'm sorry, Crow.

You're right, I don't.

It's just... something I got used to and never really started doing again. ... Force of habit, you know?

_{[Biting the inside of her cheek, she sets the soda down again and scuffs one boot heel in the dust on the sidewalk.]}

Back home, Dad and I never let people get too close to us. Hell, you've probably noticed he's not exactly the biggest social butterfly around... I've been here longer than him, but...

_{[She looks back over to Crow, expression apologetic.]}

It's... not because I don't care about you, or anything.

[Apology isn't what he's after, but as he's about to mention that, the comment about Harry actually makes him chuckle a little.]

He kinda isn't!

[He's been blaming it more on the generation gap or whatever, but apparently there's more to it than that...

Crow shakes his head with a small smile. He may not know everything (or even half of it) about her, but he does know her well enough to be able to tell whether she does or does not care about someone, and despite the recent events, he's pretty sure he doesn't fall under the latter category.]

Nah, I know that's not it. And I don't blame ya, just--

[He gives her a sheepish grin.]

Guess it's never too late to learn something 'bout each other, right? 'Kay, I'll start!

[Setting his soda aside as well, Crow clears his throat and settles himself more comfortably on the bench.]

The name's Crow Hogan, twenty years old, and I come from Satellite, now part of Neo Domino City, one of the biggest cities in Japan. I'm a duelist and I run a small delivery business, Blackbird Delivery, both there and here in Johto. In my spare time -- assuming I have any, that is -- I like dueling and riding D-Wheel and visiting Martha's orphanage. Favorite food is fried rice and daifuku, but man, I can't stand sushi if they paid me for it. Favorite color's black and... uh...

[That's probably much more random trivia about himself that he's ever told anyone, especially all at once, and he seems to have run out of steam now, as he's scratching his cheek, trying to think of something else to say.]

... Dunno, guess that's 'bout it. Oh, yeah, I'm a Signer, too, but that part you know already.

[And the duelists ends his little introduction with a nod.]

_{[Well, the generation gap is a factor as well, but ... well, Harry's always been the quiet type. A lot more than his daughter.]

[But any more awkward apologizing is headed off by the fact that Crow launches into self-description, breaking the ice. At first Heather looks a little surprised, but then she settles in to listening, a slow smile quirking up the sides of her mouth.]}

... You don't like sushi? Man, not that I'm super into it, but that shit's good.

Anyway, uh...

_{[Coughing slightly and spreading her palms, she shrugs her shoulders a little bit.]}

My name's Cheryl Mason-- Heather to everyone but Dad. Born in Maine, U.S. of A. I lived in Portland 'till I was about four, then we moved to Bangor. I graduated high school a few months before I came here. Did odd jobs throughout most of that. Waitressing, kid-sitting, did part-time in an autoshop for a bit...

Uh... I guess I don't really have hobbies here, but back home, I liked reading, craft... stuff, hanging out at the mall... video games sometimes...

I like sweet stuff... cookies and ice cream and shit. Like fruits, too.

And the color orange.

Edited 2012-08-28 05:35 (UTC)

[The difference between father and daughter in that aspect is hard to miss.

The duelist makes a face at the mention of sushi, though, and wrinkles his nose a bit.]

Eh, it's raw fish with some seaweed. Big deal. And it costs way more than its worth, so-- nah, I ain't a fan.

[Then Crow goes quiet and listens to her part. His eyes widen in surprise when she states her name -- he's never expected her to say anything other than 'Heather', after all -- but he simply nods and doesn't say anything until she's finished.]

... Cheryl's a nice name. But so 's Heather.

[And with that, he beams happily at her.]

See? Much better already!

97. [Action for Goldenrod/Private Text]

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