foolishwren | 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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_{[Despite the reasonably bad first impression, one side of her mouth quirks up.]}

Close enough.

_{[She could deal with being called Hezza.]}

Hezza!

[Smile! He can be a sweet kid, if he wants.]

[Then, of course, to ruin the moment, he starts to cough, violently.]

_{[Heather's willing to look past bad first impressions. She even quirks another grin at the mispronunciation-- though it quickly turns to a weirded-out look at his coughing fit.]}

Uh-- dud-- ... Jun. You okay?

[Falling down on his fours, still coughing, blood splattering over his lips.]

_{[........................................]

[Heather, on the other hand, stood up. Eyes widening. Yeah. It was pretty safe to say that she was not prepared, physically OR mentally, to deal with someone coughing their bodily fluids out right in front of her. So far away from other people. She's not a doctor.]}

I...

[Cough, cough]

... Don't touch the blood. You'll get sick too.

_{[There's a nervous laugh in her voice.]}

Oh, believe me, I have no intention of touching the blood.

[He sits up, wiping his mouth]

Good. Wouldn't want you to contract it.

_{[She watches, brows furrowed deeply and expression unreadable. It's not every day a total stranger yarks up his guts right in front of you. ... Figuratively.]}

.... What is it?

[He wipes his mouth and sits back, sighing.]

HIV. This? It's mostly symptoms that I don't have my medicine here.

_{[That's a hell of a thing to admit to someone you'd just met, but he kind of had splattered blood all over the boardwalk so... yeeeah.]}

... I'm... sorry.

_{[What else was there to say to that?]}

[Yeah, not something he would have said unless his lungs had decided that hey, let's cause a scene and be awkward together~! :D]

Yeah, yeah. Have any water? Or something?

_{[~*~AWKWARD HAPPY DISEASE FUNTIMES~*~]

[She reaches over cautiously and pulls a water bottle out of her pack, holding it out to him.]}

Keep it.

[/o/]

[Takes it and drinks, slowly.]

Thanks.

Uh... How old are you?

_{[This guy really had no idea how to make tactful conversation, did he? But then, Heather was kind of used to weirdass people. As long as they were harmless...]}

Eighteen.

[Nope, not his forte.]

That old? Huh.

Twelve.

Hey, do you see wrinkles on this face? Eighteen's not ancient. _{[Although if she'd wanted to be technical about it and REALLY blow his mind, she could have given her whole all-lives-included age, which was thirty-two. Ain't past lives just a hoot?]}

And huh. Coulda guessed that.

Bitch.

... At least you're not all broody anymore.

[... Who are you to comment on that, dear?]

And prooooud of it, kid. _{[It was hard to actually offend Heather by insulting her. Most of the time she either blew it off or flat-out agreed.]}

Anyway, I wasn't brooding. S'quiet out here. I like to think.

[Would you believe that actually made him grin?]

Cool. About some guy, I bet.

_{[And THAT suggestion got a raised, incredulous brow.]}

Technically? Yes. In the way you're thinking? No.

No?

[You have his attention.]

_{[Aaaaand it's none of his beeswax! :D So Heather decides to get creative.]}

Yes. My long-lost brother. He was abducted by aliens when I was three.

And it's my life-long quest to find him.

_{[She says this with a totally, completely straight face, staring straight at him.]}

[Aw, chucks, I thought it was her dad who was abducted by aliens! D:]

... The weird thing is that I've seen enough to actually consider it a possibility that you're telling the truth.