foolishwren | 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

N'here I thought you were a perfect role model. Guess the apple didn't fall too far from the tree after all. _{[Except that Heather had wound up being more the 'drink and party' rebel than the 'defy the law to read' sort.]}

Not far at all. I'm just lucky there was no one around to tell you these stories when you were younger.

That reminds me. Has Henry figured out what's happened to his cigarettes yet?

_{[A muffled laugh as she leans forward, elbows on her knees and hands clasped between.]}

No... I told him he ought to find a better hiding place, but he didn't listen...

I'd find them anyway.

He still thinks he's just losing them then?

This morning he accused Cujo of eating 'em.

_{[Which, TO BE FAIR, was not a entirely baseless accusation.]}

That probably wouldn't be healthy.

I'm hoping he'll give them up sooner or later.

[Because the war will not end.]

Good luck with that... he's pretty stubborn. ... Y'know. In his own ... ridiculously nonconfrontational way.

We will see.

I guess we will.

_{[... And then she lapses back into silence, idly tugging on her fingers and staring off at the people passing up and down the sidewalks.]}

[He leans back on the bench, watching the people walk by as well. Silent.]

_{[A long period of quiet passes before Heather speaks up again.]

[When she does, it's in a sigh.]}

... She said I was lying, Dad.

...Lying?

[That gets him to glance over.]

About what?

About what Dahlia did to me.

.....That's-

[Okay a small moment because emotions and that came out sharper then he'd intended. Okay calmer now.]

...

That's ridiculous.

_{[Heather shakes her head glumly.]}

Not to her...

Dahlia had her wrapped around her little finger.

... The bitch...

[He sighs, and then moves his arm to pull her closer for a hug.]

Come here.

_{[She returns the action, scooting a little closer to him and leaning into his arms.]}

... That was what pushed me over the edge. I... obviously the biggest thing was the fact that she took you away, but... denying everything...

The abuse...

_{[Her voice kinks up a little on that word in disgust. It feels weak to use it in regards to herself, like she's some kind of sniveling victim. But there was no other word for what Alessa had gone through her entire life. Even at its tamest, it had been the sort of thing that was supposed to result in the kid getting taken away by social services.]

[Except that had never happened.]}

I-- ... Alessa never told her about it. Didn't wanna scare her. ... And then I finally did and when she told me I was lying, I just...

[Hugs for daughter. Keeping his arm around her.]

You were trying to protect a friend. You had no way of knowing how things would turn out.

[Everything related to this is so complicated.]

People find it harder to accept things ...when they're painful. No matter what the truth is. But the important thing is you know the truth. No matter what she says, it won't make her right.

And no matter what you think. Alessa, Cheryl, Heather....my daughter... you are one of the strongest and bravest people I know. You always have been. No matter what name you were going by at the time.

_{[She nods as he speaks-- she knows it's true. Even if she'll probably never be able to extinguish that tiny pilot-light of guilt (the only time, lately, that she can forget it's there is when it's next to the white-hot fire of rage and therefore indistinguishable), she knows it's true.]

[Alessa had tried... she had done everything in her power, and no one could blame a frightened, dying, mutilated fourteen-year-old for throwing herself at a last-minute bid for freedom and just trying to make it as far away as possible.]

[It had been self-preservation.]

[There had been nothing else she could possibly do.]

[... But that last bit makes her chest grow tight and the corners of her eyes begin to sting.]}

... You're the strongest and bravest person I know.

_{[Just for that. Just for accepting her in every incarnation, however paradoxical-- for looking past her dangerous roots and learning to love her anyway. All of her.]}

[He smiles with a shake of his head and hugs her again.]

Come on. I think we both need something to cheer us up.

Icecream, my treat.

_{[She returns the squeeze one-armedly before pulling away to get up.]}

You mean being grounded doesn't extend to outings for ice cream?

You truly are a merciful tyrant.

[He chuckles as he stands up as well.]

I have my moments.

Well, you know how to keep the peasants from revolting, anyway.

_{[Slipping her arm through his (because dammit you're never too old to walk hand-in-hand with your father), she starts to head down the road.]}

We wouldn't want that, now would we.

[Never to old.]

I think the peasants know by now that revolting doesn't get them any ice cream.