97. [Action for Goldenrod/Private Text]

[foolishwren]

[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]

<sub>[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.]</sub>

Comments

[foolishwren]

Sure.

_{[She sounds dull-- morose. Probably more than he's ever heard her sound. But all the same, she moves off towards the counter. He's free to pick out a table.]}

[vulpesvivus]

[Somewhat distracted by several things--Heather's tone, the current situation, his own general sense of unhappiness--Otacon quietly found his way to a table and took a seat.]

[foolishwren]

<sub>[Eventually she comes heading back over, a small coffee and a plate of crepes in one hand. Even if she doesn't have much of an appetite either, screw it. She wants sweet things. Fancy pancakes with fruit and shit fits that category.]

[She sits down opposite from Otacon and slides the cup towards him.]</sub>

[vulpesvivus]

Thanks.

[He gave her a smile at that, though it was faint and hesitant.]

[foolishwren]

Mnm.

_{[She nods as she picks up a fork from the side of the table and proceeds to prod the food around awhile, occasionally eating, but mostly just fidgeting.]}

... So you got that sickness too, huh. How was it? ... I didn't exactly pay much attention to the network.

[vulpesvivus]

I didn't have it too badly. Blew up a few lightbulbs, had trouble sending messages without my Pokegear going haywire...other than that, it wasn't too strange by Johto standards.

[foolishwren]

Oh...

_{[Man, she... REALLY wishes that's all SHE got...]}

... At least that's all it was...

[vulpesvivus]

[Sigh.]

Guess I got lucky for a change.

[foolishwren]

Yeah. I guess.

_{[Though she's wearing a weird sort of frown as she goes back to her food, stabbing the pastries with her fork broodingly.]}

[vulpesvivus]

...asking how you've been would probably be a pretty stupid question at this point.

[foolishwren]

_{[She actually snorts at that. It's bitter mirth at best, though.]}

Heh. Yeah, pretty much.

_{[Had ANYONE had a good time during this whole thing? ... Aside from the people who'd been like WOWEE COOL POWERS?]}

[vulpesvivus]

Sorry.

[Otacon smiled, even more awkwardly than usual.]

...So what do you want to talk about? If anything, I mean--nobody really said we had to if you don't feel up to it.

[foolishwren]

Well... I guess it's not really a matter of want, but...

_{[She puts her fork down, running her fingers through her hair.]}

I owe you some sort of explanation for going all Liquid on you, don't I?

[vulpesvivus]

[He laughed somewhat bitterly when she sad that, the same smile still on his face.]

I'm not gonna force it out of you or anything. If you want to tell me, tell me. If not, that's okay too.

[foolishwren]

You don't need to force it. Look, you-- you're drifting away, okay? You have been for months.

I've been pushin' everybody away lately but I know if I do it with YOU, you're just gonna get even further. So don't do this whole 'whatever you want to do, I don't care' thing, okay?

[vulpesvivus]

...

[She was right and he knew it. Otacon was pushing people away even as he actively tried not to--it was either hurt them by association or hurt himself by being alone. There was some term for it, maybe...something about hedgehogs? He couldn't really remember, not that it was important.]

...You're right. I'm sorry.

[foolishwren]

_{[Pretty much, except in this case he was hurting people more by being alone than he ever could by association.]}

Good.

_{[It comes out sharply, and it's a little mean, but then her expression softens and she sighs, dragging a hand down her face.]}

I'm sorry, too.