100. [Video/Action for Saffron City]

[foolishwren]

<sub>[Wow.]

[That Vulpix on the screen sure looks pissed.]

[The ironic presence of the happy leftover Christmas lights behind it doesn't help.]

[A heavy sigh sounds from off-camera.]</sub>

Man.

Leave it to her to get one last dig in just when I thought it was over.

<sub>[But Heather apparently isn't gonna elaborate on who 'her' is... though anyone who witnessed Heather's fiery freakout over the summer and knew what it was about might have a decent guess.]

[The camera just shifts as she gets up-- it lingers briefly on what looks like a box filled with crumpled wrapping paper-- in the middle of it sit two large eggs.]</sub>

Hopefully the other living presents we got this year'll be friendlier.

_{[She turns the camera around at last and sort of regards it for a moment, chewing absent-mindedly on her lip. She's got a big wooly winter hat on, so either she just got in or she's about to go out. Probably the latter.]}

... Screw this year, man. Bring on the new one.

_{[HAPPY NEW YEAR ERRYBODY.]}



[ooc: ANYONE IN SAFFRON CITY IS FREE TO RUN INTO HEATHER, or assume she randomly stopped by wherever they are.]

Comments

voice;

[show_my_cannons]

You want mine, if those turn out poorly?

voice;

[foolishwren]

_{[She snorts audibly. Behind that is the sound of feet plodding in snow. She's talkin' while walkin'!]}

Nah, I think I've probably got enough wild animals in my room without adding some more...

What'd you get, anyway?

_{[She's seen a FEW hatched eggs on the network, but hasn't honestly paid too much attention. Hers always seem to take their time.]}

voice;

[show_my_cannons]

Suit yourself, kid.

[He's just chilling in front of a fire. It snowed. He's not going out there.]

Not sure yet. Does not seem to want to hatch out yet.

[video]

[vulpesvivus]

...It's been a pretty miserable year, hasn't it?

[voice]

[foolishwren]

<sub>[She almost doesn't even wanna talk to Otacon. Not because of anything HE'S done, of course, but because the last time she did, it was during that... less-than-pleasant exchange with Liquid.]

[... But she misses Hal, and so she does reply. Though she keeps it to voice rather than video, and chuckles darkly.]</sub>

Yeah.

It really has.

[voice]

[vulpesvivus]

I guess the only place to go from rock bottom is up, right? I mean, it probably can't get much worse hopefully.

[action]

[no_ufo_ending]

<sub>[See Henry.]

[See Henry sit and stare at two non-suspicious, ordinary looking eggs in his lap. With worry.]</sub>

What if something that hates me comes out of one of them?

[action]

[foolishwren]

_{[Heather pauses-- she was on her way out the door, but shaggy adopted bro looks like he needs some reassurance.]}

... Pretty sure if nothing else, the one I gave you won't hatch hating you from birth.

Can't make any promises on the mystery santa one, though.

[action]

[no_ufo_ending]

Well, you never know...

_{[Henry picks up one of them and turns it carefully over in his hands before...HENRY NO DON'T SHAKE IT THERE'S A BABY IN THERE.]}

I don't think I'm going to be carrying them with me anywhere. I don't want to die behind a poke'mart. Thanks, Boo.

[Action, just because we can.]

[bywiseguidance]

[Ziva is out and about in Saffron, well, because she can. New Year's Eve and all. She's bundled up in the coat Hiccup gave her, the gloves, hat, and scarf from Albert, and tall black boots--and carrying a small black sling bag with an egg in it.

She probably should've expected to see someone she knew out as well, but it's not like she doesn't welcome it. She smiles at Heather cheerfully.]

Good evening, Heather. Happy New Year.

[Action 4evs.]

[foolishwren]

<sub>[It's a big city. But it's not Goldenrod. If there's one thing Heather's noticed since coming to Kanto (originally just to cheer her friend on in the battle tournament, then staying for the company), it's that there aren't as many 'foreigners' here. It's easy to forget, sometimes, that the scattered couple-hundred-or-so people pulled in from other dimensions don't actually number that many against the natives of this world, and outside of the Johto hub where most congregate, there's far fewer familiar faces.]

[So bumping into Ziva is a surprise!]

[... But not really an unwelcome one. Heather had wanted fresh air, but not necessarily to go off and be a lone wolf tonight.]</sub>

Uh... hey!

_{[Heather's still in that leather jacket she was wearing throughout the entire holiday, even though it... hardly seems to be the warmest thing. She's apparently trying to make up for that with the hat and scarf.]}

Happy New Year.

... Didn't feel like stayin' home either, huh?

[bywiseguidance]

Not particularly.

[She's never been much of a homebody, and you can only stay inside so long. The programming on the TV is incredibly repetitive and she's out of books to read.]

Did you have any plans tonight?

[action]

[exeggutorhead]

[Envy had arrived in Saffron barely a half hour ago, and it had since occurred to him that he didn't know where the people he'd come to visit were staying. At the hotel, he guessed, but for the moment he was okay with stretching his legs from the train ride in the streets before making a call.]

[His Tyranitar is following behind him, and so is his Yamask. It's chance when he walks by on the other side of the street from where Heather is, and while he doesn't spot her, Edmund the Yamask does. Envy'd explained who they were going to see, so he thinks he recognizes her as the right person.]

[Envy fails to pay enough attention to the light tugs on his coat, so clearly the only thing for it is for Edmund to go see if he can get Heather's attention himself.]

[So Heather will have a slightly timid-looking Yamask tapping her on the shoulder.]

[action]

[foolishwren]

<sub>[Yeah, Heather isn't watching the crowds too closely... perhaps less closely than she should, but either way, she doesn't see Envy at first.]

[But the funny thing about being tapped on the shoulder by a tiny ghost when there's not actually anybody nearby in her peripheral vision is that it's a little... startling. At least when you're already on-edge.]

[Heather doesn't make a sound, but she does JOLT and twist around, glancing about wildly for a second or two. Expecting to see... y'know, a person.]

[... Except it's a... a.... one of those things! Oh.]</sub>

... Uh... HEY, little... dude.

[action]

[exeggutorhead]

[Edmund taps his 'hands' together in front of his face sheepishly and floats backwards a little when he startles her. He hadn't meant to really :( ]

[But he nods in greeting before pointing across the street at Envy and Chimera (who is probably easier to spot, honestly), making a questioning sound. Do you know my friends over there?]

[video]

[brokenmemories]

[Part of her wants to ask a whole bunch of questions such as "What's with the Vulpix's mean look?" while another thinks asking is not the wisest decision she'll ever make in her sad life.]

[Too bad the first feeling overcame the second one.]

Is the something wrong with the Vulpix?

[video]

[foolishwren]

_{[A very wise decision, at least when it comes to going with the straightforward question rather than the goofy pun. Heather's not really in a joking mood like the last time she posted to the network.]}

... Not... exactly, I guess.

More like there was something wrong with its old owner.

[video]

[brokenmemories]

[Judging by Heather's face, she wasn't going to bother asking about the Vulpix's old owner. She felt that would be going too personal for someone she barely knew. The 'old' part caught her attention, though.]

...Did its owner returned back home too?

[In case if that question sounded too awkward, Misaki asked the next question in mind.]

Did you get anything else for Christmas?

[Action]

[haveyouseenalittlegirl]

[Harry is just looking over as Heather films the Vulpix. And when she finishes he walks over. Hat on his own head as well.]

I'm sure they'll be friendlier.

But for now I think we could both use some fresh air.

[Action]

[foolishwren]

_{[She pauses by the door, one hand on the knob.]}

You sure?

S'pretty cold out there.

[Action]

[haveyouseenalittlegirl]

I think I'll manage.

[He has a coat Heather, he's not totally an old man yet. :|]

Don't forget to wear your mittens though.

[action]

[darkenedgales]

[There's no room for grumpiness on the New Year's! Or at least that's what Crow seems to believe; whether he's seen the Vulpix video or not is irrelevant, since he has no intention of bringing that up anyway. He is, however, rather eager to get her attention after he spots her somewhere down the street and starts sprinting towards her.]

Heeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaatheeeeeeeeer!

[Subtle as ever.

He finally stops just in front of her, panting heavily as he tries to catch his breath. In the meantime, a Pidgeot -- one that looks distinctively like the bird that's accidentally gotten involved in some Heather-connected crap last summer (not that he looks much different from other Pidgeots Crow owns, but the fact he huffs a bit and turns his nose beak up at the sight of the girl says a lot) -- lands next to the duelist.]

Been... looking all over for ya!

[action]

[foolishwren]

<sub>[... WHOA CROW WHOA.]

[Heather turns around, startled, at the sound of her name HOWLED down several blocks. And holds up her hands in anticipation of the oncoming Crow collision, which thankfully never quite happens. So then she stands, somewhat wide-eyed, as he desperately tries to regain his breath. The wide-eyed look is exchanged for a guilty, sheepish one when the Pidgeot lands.]

[No, she can't tell them apart by sight alone, but that look speaks for itself so she quickly averts her gaze, scuffing a boot on the ground until Crow regains the ability to speak.]</sub>

Oh-- I, uh... sorry.

You should've given me a call're something, I would've met you somewhere...

[usedconfusion]

Man, that Pokemon does not look like a happy camper.
.

[foolishwren]

Yeah, believe me. She isn't.