foolishwren | 100. [Video/Action for Saffron City]

_{[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.]}

Man.

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

_{[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.]}

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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He nods.]

It doesn't. For me, it feels like it's been longer. Three years, normally they'd go by like that. [He snaps his fingers for emphasis.]

Feels like I've been here a decade.

... Heh. Well.

Me, I can hardly believe it's been three.

One, maybe.

I'm glad it hasn't really been one, can you imagine all that's happened squeezed into just one year? None of us would ever sleep.

[Although as they walk, they're coming up on the Fighting Dojo; the sound of thumping feet and shouted HAHs are faintly audible even out on the street. A small group of Blackbelts and walk out the front door in front of them, laughing over some sort of joke with their Pokemon following behind.]

[And since it's sort of impossible to get around people, two Machamps, and a Hitmonlee taking up the entire sidewalk, Envy stops and gives the dojo a more interested second glance.]

You ever actually been in there?

_{[She has to laugh at that.]}

I guess you're right!

_{[But as the Dojo building looms up ahead, Heather pauses, hands still in pockets, looking at the passing fighters and then up at the doors.]}

I haven't, actually... word on the street is it like, used to be the main gym of the town but then they all got whomped by Sabrina and had to step down.

[...it's another telling sign of how long he's been here that Envy's immediate thought is 'well of COURSE they lost, psychic is strong against fighting'.]

Yeah, I think I heard something about that.

[He tries to get a look at the inside of the building through one of the windows, getting more curious. And hey, after that train ride some exercise doesn't sound half bad.]

Want to check out what's in there?

_{[RIGHT? If the story is true, Heather honestly wonders why stuff like that doesn't happen more often. What's to stop some wannabe Electric leader from mowing Falkner down and setting up shop in Violet?]}

... Sure, why not?

Never been in a dojo before, unless that Gym in Cianwood counts.

Same, dojos weren't really a thing back home. And I got out of that Gym as soon as I had my badge.

[He goes to the doors, pushing one open to walk in and absently holding it behind him for Heather. There's people and Pokemon sparring or having battles, but it isn't too crowded.]

I talked with Chuck a little after beating him, he seemed a little cooler than some of the other Gym Leaders.

_{[But stayed to TRAIN... no, she hadn't done that.]

[She slips in after Envy, pausing briefly to look around. Dead tonight... but it's cold and late, so she's not surprised.]}

... Huh...

Heh, definitely cooler than Whitney and Falkner, I'll give him that.

[He's looking around too, putting his hands back in his pockets even though they're inside now.]

Well, there's a distinct lack of waterfall puzzles in this one. Not that I'm complaining.

[He pauses giving the dojo another look, before giving her a challenging half-grin.] Hey, interested in sparring while we're in here?

Sparring?

_{[She casts a glance around at the place, noting all the currently-unused space. Then grins.]}

... Sure. But don't get too whiny when I whomp your ass.

Oh, I don't think you'll have to worry about that too much.

[His grin just gets wider.]

Seeing as how I'm going to win hands down.

Like you could.

Bet I can beat you there, even. Readysetgo--!

_{[Aaaand without waiting, she dashes off to the free area furthest in the back.]}

100. [Video/Action for Saffron City]

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