foolishwren | 015, Action

Current Mood: blank
Current Location: Out on the boardwalk north of Violet City

Entry tags:

015, Action

_{[So aside from a few fleeting times she's run into somebody in town or popped up on the 'Gear's network to sass someone, Heather's been a little scarce lately-- ever since the aftermath of her drinking escapades with a certain clone and dweebish scientist. Where's she been? Not far, just... not really around anybody. Why? Well, she sure hasn't been talking about it, whatever it is-- though it wouldn't be too hard to imagine that she'd want to keep her head down after likely incurring the wrath of owners of kicked-over trashcans and whoever'd had to deal with the mess made after Liquid took out a line of lawnchairs while trying to flip over them.]

[But today, instead of being off by herself in the woods or wherever it is she's been staying, she's sitting off out on the water, legs dangling off that long wooden boardwalk that lead to Sprout Tower. Boots and bag are discarded, sitting off to the side in a jumble. Her Pokemon aren't out-- apparently company is not on her chosen menu today.]

[She's not wearing her usual array of cheeky grins or pissed-off-teenager expressions today, either. In fact, her face is somber .... almost blank as she stares down at the water while pondweeds wrap around her ankles and the occasional curious Goldeen ventures up to investigate her toes.]

[Should anyone actually decide to approach the brooding blond kid (although she couldn't be called this much longer-- her black roots are starting to show through OH NOES), the reception they'll get... depends.]}

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[He managed an awkward smile at that, more 'oh god what a mess' than actually amused.]

What'd he say?

_{[The grin remained, but it grew strained. So did her voice. She was staring determinedly at the water now, like she expected it to bend away from her gaze.]}

... He didn't know me. Asked me, didn't my parents teach me better?

He doesn't know you yet, huh? I'm getting used to the whole time...thing.

[Wibbly wobbly timey-wimey ball and all that.]

...I'm sorry. That must be pretty hard.

No. He's... younger. Eighteen years younger than when he died.

_{[Out of nowhere, she sucked in a loud, wheezy breath and swiped at her eyes viciously, teeth bared in something that was between a grin and a grimace.]}

Yeah, I'm not gonna lie, Hal, it's hard, it's pretty fuckin' hard.

...

[He put his arm over her shoulders almost cautiously, like he was half-thinking she was going to bite him or something.]

...anything I can do?

_{[Yeeeeah, she kiiind of gave off that impression sometimes. Poor Otacon wasn't the first to worry about it. When he laid his arm over her shoulders, she relaxed, perhaps realizing that getting snarly probably wasn't the best thing to do when she was around people who might misinterpret it as directed at them.]}

... I... I don't know. I think I'm the only one who can deal with this. ... But thanks.

It might be a good thing, y'know. I mean, once you guys get things straightened out...you'll have a chance to spend time with him, maybe get to know him better.

[Otacon found himself staring blankly at the water, some very dark thoughts running through the back of his head at the sight.]

...you...might be really lucky.

_{[She nodded-- it occurred to her now, a little too late, that it was kind of unfair for her to be bemoaning this... when Otacon's father was...]}

I... yeah, I've... thought about that. It's just...

_{[Letting out a gusty sigh, she rocks back to lean on her hands, directing her gaze up at the sky. It's been perfect, cloud-scudded blue ever since the flooding ceased, as if to apologize.]}

I wasn't exactly the best kid. I did all kinds of stupid stuff to make him mad, since I thought I was so oppressed and misunderstood and all that... regretted it, big-time. ... And now, here I am after spending a whole year wishing I could take all that stupid stuff back, and out of nowhere, he's back and somehow sees me doing the exact same thing I told myself I'd stop.

... I haven't changed at all.

[Regardless of his own circumstances, Otacon listened patiently to everything Heather had to say.]

...Sometimes people hurt their family for reasons like that. Rebellion, attention, whatever. It happens. [And boy, would he ever know. Thanks a lot, Emma. 8|]

But...even if they're hurting them, that doesn't mean they don't care. If you think you haven't changed, then start now. It's never too late as far as I'm concerned.

_{[It's good advice, and Heather knows it. All the same, she lets out a quiet, almost rueful chuckle.]}

Easier said than done...

_{[As fierce as Heather was in almost everything she did, the thought of even talking to this younger version of her father made her want to go hide her head in the sand. She might have been brave, but she truly doubted she was brave enough to look him in the eye after that awful first impression.]}

I understand. If anyone from my family showed up here...

[He sighed, lying on his back and staring at the sky with a less than genuine smile.]

Y-you've got a really good chance here, at any rate.

_{[She smiled, too. Her was genuine, but sad.]}

Yeah, I know... I just don't know if I know how to take it.

_{[She paused, not quite sure what to say after that. She's terrible at comforting people. Always had been. Whenever she tried, she wound up saying stupid awkward things that didn't even make sense and always felt embarrassing to think about after.]}

.... You remind me a little of him, y'know. My dad.

_{[Stupid awkward thing that didn't make sense and would be embarrassing to think about later quota: filled.]}

To tell the truth, Heather...you remind me of someone I used to know, too.

[Awkward and potentially embarrassing things all around.]

_{[She actually looks surprised.]}

Really?

_{[It's not the first time she's heard something along those lines-- not that it was always a flattering thing. Douglas had, after all, compared her to his delinquent son. ... Which... had still made her feel good. In a weird way.]}

[He closed his eyes with a quiet sigh, smiling.]

It's weird, but...you remind me of my sister. Maybe I'm just crazy.

_{[That's a surprise-- but not an unpleasant one.]}

... Maybe you are. But I don't mind. _{[She reached over and gave his shoulder a pat.]}

Heh...thanks.

[A pause.]

...You, uh...know, don't you? [He laughed, obviously embarrassed and still faking a smile.] I was never very good at being subtle, but I f-felt like I had to tell someone about everything.

_{[Poor guy. She can kind of tell he's forcing it. She replied with a genuine-- if slightly amused-- one.]} Yeah, I know. It was kinda obvious. But I don't mind.

Sometimes you just gotta... talk about that kind of stuff.

Maybe some people don't understand what it's like to have to, but... I do, for what it's worth.

Yeah, I guess so.

[Otacon sighed, crossing his arms behind his head.]

...It's...nice to have someone understand.

Yeah. Makes a pretty big difference.

_{[With that, she leans back to lie down, herself. The wood's not much of a cushion, but it's not bad.]}

After Dad was gone, it was weird going out every day and being surrounded by people who have no idea what it's like. It gets lonely.

...I ran away after my father died. Went to college, shut myself off from the rest of the world the best that I could. It felt like...like people were irrational, or just too unpredictable for me to deal with. Computers and electronics were simple, black and white. Either a circut works or it doesn't, and if it doesn't you just fix it without a problem.

People...aren't so easy to understand. I guess that scared me.

... I don't blame you. It... must have been really terrifying. _{[She hadn't known Otacon for a long time, but even in the scant few weeks anyone here'd had to get to know each other, she'd seen how nervous and flighty and... socially inept he was. Imagining a younger him going out into the world for the first time after such a big emotional blow was sort of heartwrenching.]}

... I was always pretty good. Socially, I mean. I was kind of a bitch, actually. Y'know, the mallcrawling, partying type. _{[... And the shoplifting, fighting type.]} ... Then once I lost my dad... I mean, I'd already started trying to get away from all that, but... it was so weird.

Even if I'd tried to do that old stuff, I don't think I could have.

It was like all the people I used to hang out with, even the decent ones, were a totally different species.

_{[You didn't just go back to loitering around the food court and giggling about boys after Silent Hill.]}

I was never really social or anything, so it wasn't really a big change. Kept to myself, went to MIT and all that...I wanted to be an engineer in order to help people. Make up for what I'd done, y'know?

But you're kind of right--nothing's ever really normal again after something like that.

Yeah, I didn't exactly... have close friends. ... They weren't really friends at all, just... people I surrounded myself with. ... I don't exactly miss it, but it was weird realizing I could never go back to it.

_{[She was quiet for a little while after that-- just thinking. 'Make up for what I'd done'. Under normal circumstances, Heather wasn't a very nosy person. Even when she'd been acting out, filling in the ranks around her with 'friends' to dispel that feeling of secrecy she'd always been encouraged by Harry to keep up, she had still had 'Mind your own business, stay safe' hardwired into her. ... But she couldn't help but wonder. What could someone as sweet and awkward as this guy possibly have done?]}

.... Can... I ask what happened?

I never had any friends at all until I met Snake. Unless you count my stepsister, when we were kids.

[He stared at the sky with an almost blank expression for a minute or two before closing his eyes.]

You'd just hate me if you knew. I'd probably deserve it.

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