105. FOURTH WALL POST [Action for Saffron City, anywhere in Saffron City! Video's okay too]

[foolishwren]

<sub>[You know what?]

[Heather's not even sure why she TRIES anymore.]





[So done. So done.]</sub>


Here we go again.


... Yes, Cooj, I still love you.

Just not right now.

Comments

[probullet]

[... Ah, that. Figures she'd ask -- Crow can't really blame her, and if they switched places, he'd probably do the same.

Still.]

... You really wanna know?

[foolishwren]

<sub>[That sort of shuts her up... but for a second she really looks conflicted about it.]

[... She's lost so many people...]</sub>

... I guess I don't...

[probullet]

[Crow shrugs lightly in response. He doesn't really mind either way, so he'll be leaving it up to her.]

As you wish.

[The duelist finally moves away from the ROTTING MONSTER and settles down next to Heather.]

... I've missed you, you know.

[foolishwren]

<sub>[She looks over to him as he sits down. It's... weird as hell to see him as an adult.]

[... Well, technically, of course, they're both ALREADY adults, but they're still in that hazy gap between the teenage years and real adulthood. She's always seen him as "another kid", in any case.]</sub>

... I'd ... say the same to you, but...

_{[A weak laugh, because that 'I just saw you this morning' thing is still a thing.]}

... I guess I should be flattered... to be missed and stuff.

[probullet]

[Oh, he knows. Obviously, eight years ago he would have argued how HE'S TOTALLY AN ADULT WHAT'CHU TALKIN' 'BOUT, but there's a difference between being of age and being an actual adult. Something not many kids are willing to admit, and he sure was one of them.

Crow responds with a laugh of his own, though his probably comes off far more relaxed than hers.]

I know, I know... You'll be seeing me again by the end of the day.

[He didn't mean it as a compliment per say, but hey, she's free to take it as such. That works just fine.]

I'll have you know you're pretty easy to miss.

[As in, to feel sad when she's not around, not fail to notice her. That's for sure.]

... Though I guess I should apologize in advance for having vanished so suddenly on you.

[Weird tense structure aside, it sounds like a genuine apology.]

[foolishwren]

_{[Heather shakes her head.]}

Don't.

I know it's not your fault.

<sub>[Of course she's bitter-- just a little-- at everyone who'd disappeared. It's one of those irrational human emotions you couldn't really help. But she knows better than to think it's justified.]

[But all the same, she says it stiffly, not quite facing him.]</sub>

[probullet]

'Course it isn't.

[Even Crow isn't arrogant to believe he could decide whether to stay or go, but since he knows what losing a friend means, he can't really blame her if she's mad at him later, no matter how irrational it would be.]

But I've got a hunch you might feel that way when it comes to it.

That's how it usually goes, isn't it?

SOB this thread

[foolishwren]

_{[She falls silent at that, because he's sort of right. He's seen how she reacts to other people disappearing.]}

I'd say I'm sorry but I'm not :(

[probullet]

[He places his hand on her head and ruffles her hair gently with a smile.]

Hey, what's with the long face? You said yourself that I'm still here.

;-; DAMMIT LY

[foolishwren]

_{[--GRAHHH CROW WHAT'RE YOU DOING! She ducks out from under his hand automatically, as is per usual for headstrong kids dealing with excessively cheerful older people.]}

Well-- YEAH, but... I'm just gonna lose you like everybody else, aren't I?!

I'm supposed to be happy about that?!

CAN'T HELP IT

[probullet]

[Her reaction makes him chuckle a bit. It wasn't exactly unexpected, but amusing nonetheless.]

Dunno, depends how you look at it.

I mean, I'm pretty sure I was a pain in the ass sometimes, so...

[Whether it's an attempt at a joke or his way of telling her to always look on the bright side of life is debatable.

Might as well be both.]

this is why we can't have nice things

[foolishwren]

_{[She grouses a little as she reaches up to straighten her hair out, mumbling--]}

... Yeah, actually, you ARE a pain in the ass...

_{[But a pain in the ass that she likes having around. :c]}

tough luck

[probullet]

[... That's a futile attempt, Heather. Give it up.]

See? It won't be that bad!

[... That is probably the least helpful thing to say in this situation, honestly.]

Now cheer up. I've told you before -- or if I haven't yet then I will tell you at some point, I don't know for sure -- that I don't like it when you're all grumpy like that.

>:'(

[foolishwren]

_{[Yeah, it pretty much is. She lets out a surly huff.]}

I'm practically always grumpy like this, what're you talkin' about...

don't give me that look :(

[probullet]

Really now? That's news to me.

[He reaches out to poke her cheek lightly.]

I seem to recall you being happier than this!

>8'(!!!!!!!!!!!

[foolishwren]

_{[Crow do you wanna keep that finger >8I]}

If you recall correctly... things are kinda rough right now.

that's even worse 8(

[probullet]

[He does stop poking her, but it's more due to what she says rather than being afraid of potential loss of his finger.]

Aren't they ever.

[With that, Crow looks away from her and up to the sky, remaining silent for a moment before speaking up again.]

Look, I can't promise you things will get better instantly, and I'd lie if I said there won't be rough times later on, too. That's how life works, and you probably know it very well by now.

But you should always remember there's a bright future ahead of you.

[foolishwren]

<sub>[It's an inspirational speech worthy of any shonen anime buddy.]

[But she doesn't make fun of it or scoff. Just sort of stares out at the sunset (BARF CLICHE BLUGH) for a second or two in silence.]</sub>

... Back home, I had a poster with some movie quote on it.

'Morning always comes. It's corny, but it's true. But if you keep your eyes closed, it'll always seem like light.'

I think I've pretty much spent my entire life trying to figure out if that's bullshit or not.

[probullet]

[Cliche or not, the message is definitely something Crow agrees with.]

Well?

[He tilts his head slightly to glance at her.]

What do you think now?

[foolishwren]

_{[She rolls her shoulders in a shrug.]}

I dunno.

I'd like to think that it's true...

But so much of what I've seen just...

_{[Morning would come, but it'd be rainy and random loved ones would be gone without a trace. :I]}

[probullet]

[Crow can't blame her for doubting it; it's not like he's always been so sure of it, either.]

... No one said the morning's gonna be what we want it to be.

[He places his hand on her shoulder, giving it a soft, but reassuring squeeze.]

But it'll be there.

And eventually, you might start noticing good things about it.

[foolishwren]

Yeah. I guess so.

_{[It's probably the closest thing to concession that he'll get out of her.]}

... So...

Is everything okay when you go back home?

... I mean... you look like you've turned out pretty okay...

_{[aside from being SUPER OLD I MEAN DAM, SON.]}

[probullet]

[... Heather he's 27 WHERE DOES "OLD" EXACTLY START FOR YOU

He thinks about it for a moment before replying; literally nothing was okay right after he went back, no... but...]

Guess you could say times were rough, but eventually, the morning came.

And I'd say it's been working out pretty well for me.

[foolishwren]

_{[IT STARTS ONCE YOU'RE OLDER THAN HER and that's about it.]}

... I'm glad to hear that.

[probullet]

[Yes Heather, you both look and sound absolutely joyous. Not that it's not justified...

Crow nods to that, but doesn't say anything. Finally, he gets up.]

So, I guess it's about time I get going, huh? Since I'm already here, I might as well do some sightseeing.