IC CONTACT (Victory Road)

[foolishwren]

ffzzbrrttzzckssshhhh

"Yo, it's Heather. I'm probably asleep or one of the Pokemon ate my 'Gear or something so I can't answer you right now. But feel free to leave a message or something.
I'll probably get back to you. ... Probably. Peace out."

Click!



[Need to send Heather a private message, or start up any other thread that doesn't need a log or post of its own? Tag here with the date of the interaction in the subject line!]

[(NOTE: The old contact post containing all threads from Route 29 can be found here!)]

Comments

[Video]

[quickattackjack]

_{[Here is a short message from Jack with his favorite bird on his shoulder. His expansive livingroom can be seen behind him.]}

Miss Mason, hello! When you have a moment, I need to ask you about something I left behind--it isn't urgent, so don't worry!

[Video]

[foolishwren]

_{[When Heather answers, it's from a homey Pewter City hotel room.]}

Hey, Jack!

What's up?

_{[She has a feeling she knows what he's gonna ask for.]}

Sept 1st, mid-morning [VIDEO]

[no_ufo_ending]

<sub>[Ring ring ring! A number is calling today, not a username from Heather's contact list.]

[The voice that blares through the Poke'Gear is of similar volume to the call Envy received duirng The Jellyfish Incident but its content is not nearly as humorous.]</sub>

HEATHER, HE'S HERE!

_{[The Henry on the screen is dirty and owl-eyed, still in his scrubs and with a bloody nose. There are quite a few frustrated and ruffled Officer Jennies behind him, poised to grab him again if he ties to bolt for a third time.]}

[VIDEO]

[foolishwren]

<sub>[Well, if there's one phonecall you really don't expect to get when you're on a beautiful mountain hike, it's Henry Townshend, in custody, screaming bloody murder with a bunch of policewomen trying to calm him down.]

[The gang have arrived at a little outcrop where the cave systems briefly return to the surface and briefly sat down to take a break and eat something, and that's when the call arrives and Heather picks up. And has her eardrums blasted out.]

[Heather isn't sure when the last time she's gone from placid to unbridled panic so quickly was.]</sub>

--What?!

Who, the cultist?

Are you OKAY?! What the fuck happened?!

[Action for Shark House] Sep 13th

[no_ufo_ending]

Things had been...different since Henry's arrest. For the first time in a while, all of Shark House was in one place. And while he had been giving everyone Walter 101, he had taken the time to slow down and observe things. It was what had kept him alive in the Otherworld.

And he'd noticed...a thing or two. Or three. Or four.

With Boo on his shoulder, he made his way into the kitchen where he'd seen Heather go--a rare moment when she was alone. Very rare. Hmm. The little Litwick didn't tire him one bit, he had more than enough energy for her. She'd been suggested to keep him calm but, well, you just can't tell a Survival Horror Protagonist to chill out.

At least the thing that had been on his mind today was less dire.

"Heather, are you busy? This isn't about the nails, I took those down."

[foolishwren]

Different is putting it lightly.

Heather was just relieved that so far, there had been a lot of emotionally-charged talks and standing vigilant, but no actual encounters.

Still, life rolls on, even in the face of crisis, and when Henry found her in the kitchen, she was in the middle of mixing up some sugar-water for Honey, who was hovering insistently by her shoulder, and Carrie, who was sequestered under a chair and only peeped out at Henry when he came in.

"Hmm?"

Heather looked over her shoulder-- there were bags under her eyes, but that was nothing new.

"No, I'm not busy. What's up?"

Audio - Oct 1st

[a_sin_for_him]

Here's the first bit of our new radio drama! Casting is listed at top, we'll record through the week. It's called The Black Cofagrigus of Death, and it's appropriately spooky.

Attached file of script.

[Audio]

[foolishwren]

_{[HEATHER CAN BARELY OBTAIN HER EXCITEMENT.]}

Oh my god. I need to practice my girly screams.

video; mid-Octoberish

[notvaljean]

Heather! Heather, look!

[Someone sounds excited, even with the crackling and snapping sounds in the background that mean an unhappy Voltorb is somewhere nearby. Jean grins wide in the screen and then holds something up for her to see.]

Look what I caught!

[It's a tiny, squirming, indignant Rattata, very unhappy about being held around its middle.]

I have two now.

[No one else in his group has two.]

video; mid-Octoberish

[foolishwren]

<sub>[Oh hey! It's that kid with the exploding ball!]

[She hadn't quite been expecting him to call her up, but her grin when she answers shows she's not at all displeased to have received this purple rat-o-gram.]</sub>

NICE!

Better watch out, those little guys'll eat you out of house and home.

... Sometimes literally.

_{[She doesn't dislike Rattatas, but she's seen the havoc they can wreak on the foundations of a house.]}

[ Text ]

[11121_assumption]

[ A week after the...Murkrow reveal, Walter felt it safest to contact the owner of Warden, Kite and Wolf. It was unlikely 'Heather Mason' knew Henry or the others but he couldn't fight the churning in his guts at the thought. It takes a few tries to write the message though. Eventually, he sends it, holding Eileen close like a security plush. ]

Miss Mason, some of your pokemon have been visiting mine to play with them. A Vulpix, a Fletchling, a Hitmonchan and a yellow Riolu. I was unsure if you were aware of this. I thought they were wild when they first came and have only recently checked them for a trainer ID.

I don't mind them visiting. It makes my pokemon happy and the Riolu and Vulpix are sweet creatures. I have not been training them but they often come when I am teaching my pokemon about my faith.

I hope they can still come now I have told you about this.
- Walter

[ Text ]

[foolishwren]

<sub>[So... she doesn't reply. For AWHILE.]

[Because this is... so far beyond what she ever would have guessed was going on.]

[Like had she noticed Valtiel sometimes wasn't around when she expected him to be? Well, yeah. Same with the Vulpix she'd inherited from her former best friend, and the terrorbird, and the newest baby. And had she been kind of weirded out by pushy Kite in particular had been lately when it came to training, clamoring to go along on outings? That, too.]

[But she'd never have predicted this.]

[And of course, her first and most immediate instinct is to explode, to tell Walter that if she ever got wind of her Pokemon being near him again for ANY reason, that there would be hell to pay. But she's been here long enough not to give in to those first impulses-- not that they don't still get the best of her sometimes, but she's done a lot of growing since first arriving in this world almost seven years ago. There are more factors than just friend and foe at play here, and she's been trying to be the best voice of reason she can be. So she lets it simmer for a few hours, before sending something back.]</sub>

Thank you for telling me and also for not endangering them.

_{[It's pure HOPE on her part that this is the case. She knows Walter murdered animals, back in their world. But even if these secret visits had been slipping past her, there's no way she wouldn't have noticed if her Pokemon were coming back injured. But then, it could also be a way to get further access to Henry. If her own Pokemon were already going behind her back... just what could they be persuaded to do by a member of the Order?]}

I'll have to decide whether they're allowed to keep visiting or not. They didn't have permission and at least two of them definitely knew better than to sneak around like that.

Can you tell me more about what happens when they come to see you?

Afternoon, 26th Jan

[11121_assumption]

[ Looks like someone's figured out how to leave video messages - spoilers, it's the fellow 'cult kid' in Johto! He's sitting in a hotel room, with Assumption (of course), Joseph and Reed perched on his shoulder, constantly bobbing up and down like a metronome to the background music that filled this world. ]

Hello Heather. I'm sorry if Assumption has been ringing you too often. [ Assumption does not look sorry and is merely waving happily to the Gear. Hello friends! ] I've reached my final destination for now. I will be coming back to Goldenrod in a few days, after I've challenged the Pokemon Gym and explored the local ruins.

I'm not coming back to see or speak to Henry. There are...others I wish to see. And I think Assumption wants to visit his friends, if we can arrange that. [ Assumption nodded, tail wagging. A crash came off screen and Walter exhaled through his nose. He lifted the Cubone off his lap and rose from the chair, walking off screen to deal with some commotion. Joseph went to follow him, leaving Assumption the centre of attention. ]

[ Alone on the screen, Assumption took full advantage by rummaging for some, producing a sheet of paper and showing it to the camera. The background was roughly sketched but it wasn't too bad; it showed a forest shrine, with sharp contrasts of light and shade shaded in pencil. And then someone had taken a thicker pencil and drawn childlike figures over it; a man with long hair and a smile and a Cubone, waving. ]

"Look! We've been all sorts of places! My trainer's been drawing things and so have I, but I want to show you guys this one cos me and my trainer drew it together. He did the forest and the trees and I drew us. I'll tell you everything when we see each other, okay? Oh, and I drew this!" [ The little Pokemon flipped through a notepad, finding a paper that had been ripped out then delicately tucked back in, to keep it safe. On it was another picture of smiling, waving figures, with a big heart over them. To show that they were all friends! ]

[ There's a stern voice in the background and Assumption perks up, placing his drawing gently on the arm of the chair and sliding off to go and investigate. Finally, after some more background noise of Walter talking to the troublemakers, the camera shuts off automatically. ]

[foolishwren]

<sub>[Over the past few weeks, Heather has gotten used to seeing Walter's number pop up on her screen. Usually when this happens, she calls for Wolf and Kite (not Warden. She's still not particularly happy with Warden) and sets the 'Gear down for them to use.]

[This time, it looks like a message rather than a call, and Heather decides to watch the video first.]

[So he'll be back in town. She's not sure if it's a good idea to tell Henry or not-- her fellow survivor had reluctantly simmered down MOSTLY because Walter had left town entirely. Walter's honestly doing her a favor by informing her ahead of time of his return.]

[Of course, once Assumption takes over the 'Gear, she stops her musing to see what he's waving. She can't understand a word the little guy is saying, of course, but since it's a recording, she'll let Kite and Wolf watch it and respond later if they want... for now, she's just looking at the drawing.]

[It tears at her heart in a way most things here... don't.]

[Because it looks so much like the drawings she and Claudia had used to make together.]



[When the video message ends, she sighs deeply and opens up a text message.]</sub>

We can probably work out a meeting for the Pokemon.

When do you think you'll be in Goldenrod?

[ Text ]

[11121_assumption]

Henry is at the park. He's hurt. I'm sorry.

[ Text ]

[foolishwren]

<sub>[Her reply doesn't come until much later that night-- almost morning, in fact.]

[Obviously her first priority had been to FIND Henry and get him to the hospital. Then making sure he was okay. And, of course, hearing what happened from him.]

[But well, now it's time to find out if Walter's side matches up.]</sub>

What happened?

[Video]

[11121_assumption]

[ It's been a while. The battle with Envy was to prove that Walter was trustworthy to Henry's friends and that had gone...well enough. But Envy had told him that it didn't necessarily extend to Heather which was largely the whole point for him. Darkness would find a way to see Lyra, he knew that. But Assumption couldn't just fly over and see his friends when he wanted. He called Heather, clearly looking tired. He's been trying to deal with something else that's been constant. ]

Heather. I don't know if you were informed, but Envy and I recently had a Pokemon battle. To show that we could both be civil and to help things. I didn't hurt him. He didn't hurt me. [ He sighed heavily, sitting back in his seat. ]

Assumption misses his friends. You've probably had some missed calls; I've seen him trying to call then turning off the Gear. It's...you know how I feel about him seeing them. And there are questions I have for you.

[ There's a cry from offscreen and Walter tenses up immediately. A Flareon jumped onto his seat, walking onto his lap and beaming at the camera. ]

Jennifer. Please move. [ Jennifer blinked up at him. She stepped off him and sat by his side instead, pressed against him. He didn't relax. ]

[Video]

[foolishwren]

<sub>[They haven't spoken face to face in quite some time.]

[Fortunately... that passage of time makes it easier to be stable on camera. No yelling, no anger.]

[All things considered... outside of Henry's injuries, everything's been going fine. As fine as anything can be when Silent Hill roots are in the picture, anyway.]</sub>

Yeah.

Envy told me.

I'm glad it went okay.

_{[Glad to know that Walter was, if still a murderer, at least an honest one.]}

And... they miss him, too.

I do want them to see each other again. Without interference, this time.

_{[A deep breath, eyes shut briefly.]}

... What questions?

[Action | May 16th]

[exeggutorhead]

[The thing about working at a circus all day is that checking the network isn't really a thing that gets to happen until after the show's ended and everything's wound down for the night.]

[It's a good way to relax in that time between getting everything put away for the evening and actually getting up the energy to head out and home, and since they're all going to the same place? Envy usually seeks out Heather and/or Lust while he's doing that.]

[Well, tonight Lust is taking longer to get ready to go, so it's just Heather that Envy finds soon after he's just come across some actually unusual news.]

Hey, hey, did you get a chance to check the network yet?

[Action | May 16th]

[foolishwren]

<sub>[Heather generally has "getting ready to go" down to an art-- she's usually the first one to wrap up and wait around to hit the road.]

[Tonight, she's zonked out on a hay bale, laying on her back with an arm lazily thrown over her face-- which she lifts when Envy hails her.]</sub>

Huh?

Oh... no, I didn't. Did something happen?

_{[She's already sitting up and grabbing her bag to get the 'Gear out, curiously.]}

[ Video Message - 28th ]

[11121_assumption]

[ The feed opens on a Walter, sitting on his sofa. He's breathing heavily and doesn't...look good. His hands are very tight on his knees. It's late and by his side is Eileen and a new Pokemon; a Floette. They both look concerned and are holding his hands, as if to keep him steady. ]

You lied to me.

You said, that we were brought here to...to experience this world and it's creatures. To give us what we need. But that's not true. Otherwise, he wouldn't have gone.

I know he didn't want to go. Asriel wanted to stay. He'd...he was like me... He told me, he'd hurt people before. He didn't want to be what he had been, but he would turn back when he went back to his world and he couldn't stop that. But here he wanted to be better. He was better. He never wanted to hurt anyone, and he was...he was good. And kind. And he wanted to see everything but to 'make it last'. He hasn't seen everything, I know he hasn't, so he shouldn't-

[ The Floette floated closer to his face, making a soothing sound and touching his cheek. Walter bit his lip hard, hands trembling before he stood up abruptly. Eileen immediately jumped to her feet watched him as he grabbed at his arms, dragging his nails over his sleeves. ]

He was good and. H-he thought...I could be good too. But he's gone. Why? WHY? He needed- he needed more time! [ His normally soft voice rose as he clearly struggled with his feelings. He paced, unable to find a target for his anger and hurt. ] Why is he gone? It isn't- why would he be sent back? It's not-!

[ One of his hands lifted to his neck, scratching over his jugular so hard his fingers were digging into his skin. Eileen rushed forward, grabbing his clothing and pulling on him to try and make him stop. The Floette gave a cry of shock, rushing forward and grabbing his hand, pulling it away from his neck. Assumption, who had been behind the camera, gave a ghostly cry and joined the others in making him stop. Walter let them pull him down, onto his knees and then sat on the floor. He hung his head, hands curled into fists and digging his nails into his palms. He breathed heavily. Then began to slowly cry, curling up against the wall. He wanted to lash out but with the Pokemon here...they wouldn't let him hurt himself. One hand pulled at his hair. Eileen gently lifted an arm so she could press in to hold him. Assumption copied her on his other side. The Floette was small enough to float into his curled up position, making very soft, soothing sounds. ]

H-he's gone...and I d-don't...

[foolishwren]

<sub>[Oh god. What's happening now?]

[Heather's first, instinctive reaction is to feel defensive-- but it quickly dissipates as Walter goes on and it becomes clear just what happened.]

[It was only a matter of time.]

[But that doesn't make it any easier.]

[She takes a deep breath before responding, and keeps her voice low and calm.]</sub>

I didn't lie to you, Walter.

People are brought here because we need it.

But sometimes people leave.

I don't know why, and I don't like it.

But it happens, just like it happens back in our world.

... I'm sorry.

July 7th | MINI DAY

[exeggutorhead]

[Of all the worst things to happen on a short, one night camping trip? Waking up a few inches tall is honestly one of the worst and also the least fucking expected things to happen.]

[Escaping the polyester caverns of the sleeping bag was an adventure all on its own, and now? They've got to get one of their 'Gears open and in a position they can use it. Easier said than done.]

There's GOT to be an easier way to do this.

[Especially since they'd both been not only closed, but facedown. Envy strains at lifting at the edge, and with the two of them they can get it lifted partway, but how are they gonna flip it all the way over?]

[foolishwren]

<sub>[Her only answer is a grunt.]

[Because if there's an easier way, they sure haven't thought of it yet and she doesn't want to lose her grip.]

[She's got her shoulders under the 'Gear and is straining to lift it further.]</sub>

RRRGH!

[video - probably before Envy's post tbh]

[alltoblame]

Heather, right?

[He didn't forget, he just needs a neutral starter. He's been contemplating how to approach this for a bit now, but with Al by his side since the festival it was harder to get a private moment where he wouldn't be overheard.

Now that he's found one, and he doesn't really care if Envy notices the question, he's going to ask outright. She seems familiar enough with both of them.]

Can you tell me what exactly is going on between Envy and my brother?

[Video]

[foolishwren]

<sub>[OOH BOY... so, she was kind of... anticipating a phonecall like this.]

[Fortunately (Ed might not care, but Heather would rather not have to awkwardly excuse herself from the room to talk to her boyfriend's estranged bad-blood brother while Envy fumes the whole time), she's sitting out on the balcony of their hotel room and the Homunculus in question isn't around.]

[When she picks up, she sounds a little wary. Not cold, just less... perky and enthusiastic than the first time they talked.]</sub>

That's me.

And I guess I can.

<sub>[Shit. Al must be acting weird about the subject if Edward's asking her for details. But, well, Envy's been acting weird about it too, so...]

[She rubs the back of her neck a little awkwardly.]</sub>

I mean, I don't know how much you already know...

Video

[a_sin_for_him]

Heather, when you have a moment, may I ask your opinion on something...a touch personal?

Video

[foolishwren]

Hey, it's not like I haven't slammed you with weird, gross personal stuff before.

I owe you one. Or several.

What's up?

Hella backdated - 28th Sept

[11121_assumption]

[ Assumption wasn't sure if Wolf, Warden and Kite saw the video Walter had made about the eggs. Not that he thought they'd be particularly interested in that, but he had kind of hoped they would see it and hear the other BIG NEWS they had revealed back then. Still, he wanted them to know and the easiest way to do that would be to call them. So it would be mid-afternoon that the Gear buzzes, flashing up with Walter's number. The video opened and there he was, smiling eagerly. ]

Hi everyone! Super important stuff's been happening and I wanted to tell you guys about it all!

MANY DAYS LATER I finally get back to this

[foolishwren]

<sub>[Sometimes being on the road makes it hard to keep up with the daily ebb and flow of network posts, especially when everyone's too tired at the end of the day to do much aside from flop down and stare at the television.]

[But today when the 'Gear lights up and Heather sees just who is on the other line, she smiles crookedly at the Marowak before passing it over to the Riolu sitting at her side.]</sub>

It's for you, woofs.

<sub>[The golden jackal grabs it eagerly, pushing aside whatever was left of the food they'd been eating-- they're at a little outdoor cafe table-- and setting the 'Gear up in front of him.]

[A typed message accompanies Wolf's smiling face-- auras are hard to project over a 'Gear screen]</sub>

HELLO ASSUMPTION!

October 18th - NIGHTMARE

[exeggutorhead]

[The dream starts simply enough.]

[The 'Gear just...won't stop buzzing. It keeps going and going, saying there's someone trying to call, someone important, but the screen is as unreadable as it would be in any dream, and the call just won't pick up.]

[It could be any little stress dream, really. Except for the sense of dread surrounding the unreadable caller name, the sickening guilt.]

[The front door opens--of course this was in the house all along--and suddenly the reason for that dread becomes clear.]

Mon ami, I've come back! Where are you, I've been calling but there was no answer! I've missed you so, everything is still as it was, no?

You waited for me, I know you have. You would never leave me.

[France beams from the doorway, expression sure and confident, with no question at all.]

[The dream ends abruptly as Envy wrenches himself out of sleep, nearly bolting upright and breathing hard. Not an uncommon thing, lately, but this time is somehow so much worse. Because once, it wouldn't have been a nightmare at all.]

[foolishwren]

<sub>[In the exact same instant, Heather's eyes snap open in the darkness. She doesn't sit up just yet-- there are dreams she comes awake from thrashing, but those are rare-- far more common are the ones that leave her laying there alert and tense as a coiled spring, waiting like a rabbit who's heard a fox pass in front of the burrow's door. Waiting to see if the dream was real or not.]

[But the first thing she's aware of is that Envy is awake, too-- and his breathing tells her that he wasn't just quietly browsing the network until sleep claimed him again.]</sub>

--You okay?

_{[The words come out muddy and thick, since her mouth isn't totally awake yet-- it was just the first instinctive response that came to mind, even while her heart continues to pound.]}

Nightmare

[a_sin_for_him]

[The dream begins murky and dark. There's a sense of being weighted down, of exhaustion such as after a great struggle. Derisive laughter echoes from somewhere then fades. The scene comes into focus almost suddenly, a view from a high place looking down. The room is dark and without detail, but clear in focus is the woman recognizable as Dante. There is pain. It's both burning and ice cold and touches every part of Heather's being. Flesh, bones, even things that are beyond tangible cry out in unimaginable pain.]

[On the floor, because it's now clear Heather is pinned to a wall through her chest, Dante lifts her hands and another spike of pain shoots through the woman on the wall. A metal spike pierces Heather's right arm, pinning it to the wall as well.]

If you had behaved, this wouldn't be necessary...

[Another spike through Heather's left arm, the pain triple-fold now. An image of a butterfly, skewered in a box, flashes before the dream fades...]

TRICK OR TREEEEEEEEEEE

[toothaches]

<sub>[Vile, that's how it tastes. It's bitter and it bites.]

[Heather pulls the tall can away from her lips and fights a wretch as she hunches alone in the dark kitchen. The tacky cat clock on the wall clicks and clacks as its eyes sweep the room and its grin jeers as though just willing for someone to come in and catch her. There's a pressure that fills the room almost like smoke. Hurry. Hurry. Quiet. Quiet.]

[She takes another drink, forcing the lukewarm stuff down her throat. She wills herself to like it. Mom likes it. Mom is God. The more like Mom she is, the safer she is. The less like Samantha. The name almost feels like a bad word.]

[Lights sweep the walls and they burn as an engine growls into the driveway. Heather's breath hitches and she struggles to dispose of the still mostly full can and bundle the carton away into the topmost cabinet that she had to drag out a kitchen stool to access.]

[But the engine doesn't cut. The door doesn't open. There is simply and suddenly, a pressure on her shoulder and the smell of too much makeup. A voice like a fog horn.]</sub>

Boy.

<sub>[Heather is roughly whirled on her heels and as she opens her mouth to claim her innocence the can is suddenly in her hand again--the can she threw away! The figure before her is black--a void, a cut-out in the kitchen except for enormous smeared and red lips. It towers and says nothing.]

[Heather tries to speak again but no sound comes out. She cannot move. The shadowy hand has her in a vice grip, the thick fingers and sharp press-on nails digging into her skin. Still the figure does not speak again. The pressure grows almost unbearable and tears well up in Heather's eyes, wishing, praying for the shape to yell at her, for it to strike her, for something, anything but the suffocating silence.]

[Suddenly the figure, the Mom that is God, moves its free hand and raises the tall can to Heather's chin.]</sub>

Boy, you'll drink that and you'll drink every last drop, the hell you aren't wasting that.

_{[Heather is forced to knock back the beer, only the liquid has become thick like medicine. It barely pours and the longer it takes her to swallow the awful stuff the more imposing the mother figure becomes and the deeper the nails dig into her shoulder. It's just awful, impossible to get down. Heather coughs and gags. Tears prick the corners of her eyes. The figure sees this and suddenly it swells to fill the room, the oily smell of lipstick and the reek of gasoline almost overpowering the smell of the beer. Heather is alone in the constricting void with the red smear of a mouth.]}

Don't you cry, don't you dare cry. You cry you'll drink the whole case I'll watch you, make sure you do. DON'T YOU CRY, MY BOY DOESN'T CRY.

LOOK WHO'S HERE

[11121_assumption]

They had done it. Alessa was free and they had destroyed the lab! Assumption had been so happy to see it finally happen and he could feel Walter's relief and vicious happiness at tearing it apart. But now came the more difficult part, at least for Walter and Assumption in particular; the part where they were separated, so Team Rocket would think he had vanished. It wouldn't be for too long, it was just to buy them some time so the Rockets would have no idea where he could be.

Assumption flew with Darkness to Sharkhouse. Darkness would be staying here so he was very somber as they landed in the garden, fluttering up to immediately nestle with Lyra and his family. The Marowak drew a deep breath, and knocked on the door with his bone.

[foolishwren]

<sub>[To say that Goldenrod's been in a frenzy of alarm since the warehouse went up in smoke would be an understatement. Heather and several of her housemates had been there and back, like many others... but there's not much point in lingering around and getting in the way of the Jennies.]

[So fortunately for Henry everybody, she's home when the knock comes.]

[Being the official disgrace of the otherwise well-to-do neighborhood, Sharkhaus doesn't exactly get many unexpected visitors at the front door, so she opens it up fully expecting to see one of the bitchy people next door, come to complain that the sharks had been squirting water over the fence at their Purugly again.]

[But... NOTHING?]

[After staring straight ahead at where a human face would be for a moment in bewilderment... it occurs to her to look down.]</sub>

--you?

Where's W-- where's your trainer?

[text - before Christmas]

[alltoblame]

[By this point Ed is aware that Al lives with them, but they Don't Talk About It. At least, they didn't talk about it until the matter of a certain holiday came up. There are many reasons this is text, one is so that it's not overheard by anyone else. Another probably has a lot more to do with Ed trying to keep his emotions in check on this subject and not fully knowing what his feelings even are here.]

So, Al just told me he wants to come spend Christmas with you guys.

[foolishwren]

_{[The topic of what Al may or may not have shared about them as a group with Ed is something that hasn't really come up-- Heather's been assuming that he's probably told Ed at least SOME of what goes on there, but...]}

He does?

I mean.

We do all usually try to be home for the holidays.

I wasn't sure if he was planning on coming back this year or not, given. You know.

_{[How things are.]}

Action

[haveyouseenalittlegirl]

[Harry's waited for a bit to bring this up because well this will be a conversation. But after settling in, he locates Heather in a secluded area so they can have some privacy when they talk.]

Heather, can we talk about something?

It's about Walter.

Action

[foolishwren]

<sub>[There aren't too many truly secluded areas of the house that aren't bedrooms, but the one place that's sort of the Sanctum of Private Personal Conversations? The laundry room.]

[He'll find Heather in there folding socks while a rather chubby brown lion cub (who will have been introduced to him already as Scarlet) happily wallows in the pile of still-warm clothes from the dryer.]</sub>

... Yeah, 'course we can.

Walter, huh.

_{[She doesn't sound reluctant to talk, but it's clear that Walter is a complicated and often unpleasant subject in this house. She hasn't been in regular contact with him lately-- too much going on, what with getting her father settled and rehearsing at the circus for the upcoming anniversary. But she knows her father has, at least once.]}

Text : Private

[haveyouseenalittlegirl]

Do you have any videos or pictures from the owlpocalypse? I was telling Shiro the story and I realized I didn't have mine anymore, since I got a new gear.

Text : Private

[foolishwren]

Oh man I almost definitely do.

Give me a minute though that was AWHILE ago

_{[YEARS. How many years? A lot.]}

text; RIGHT POST THIS TIME

[shiro2hero]

Heather?

Can I |

[Hoo boy there's a lot of deleted attempts at words here.]


Do you have a second?

text; <3333

[foolishwren]

<sub>[Poor Shiro doesn't get a response immediately-- she'd been in the middle of a training session with Val, her 'Gear propped up with her pack and a change of clothes, and it's only once she staggers back over to grab her water bottle that she sees the message.]

[Oh shit.]</sub>

Hey yeah I'm here sorry was sparring

Are you okay?

text | october 23rdish

[lyingheart]

Thanks for the heads up about sending pokemon through the post.

[foolishwren]

Wh



Wait a minute what heads up

_{[This was not a text message she was expecting to receive.]}

Did you

mail a Pokemon??

> GIFT

[shiro2hero]

[IT'S THE PONYTA EXPRESS.]

[And it has a box for Heather! Full of packing peanuts... ironically shaped like Diglets. Because that joke has never gotten old to Shiro. However -- the real gift is underneath all the Diglet Peanuts.]

[It's a chart. A small telescope. And a pair of Mittens.]

Heather,
Figured maybe we could pick up that stargazing sometime. Without the Giant Jellyfish problem.
- S