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.]}

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Why not?

_{[NOTHING YOU SAY WILL CONVINCE HER, LIQUID. YOU. ARE. A PRETTYBOY.]}

The implication that you're supposed to pick up on is that I will demonstrate this on you if you don't stop calling me a bloody prettyboy.

[THAT'S WHY. :|]

_{[In response, she balls her fists and holds them up in a fighting stance. ... Wearing a 'determined' expression so ridiculous Liquid would be seriously compromising his dignity to actually hit her. ... Which was of course the point.]}

[And Liquid in turn flicked her on the forehead.]

Stop that, you look ridiculous.

_{[And she tried to flick his ear in return. This was such a mature discussion.]}

Yer face looks ridiculous.

Not as ridiculous as your hair does.

HMPH.

If it looks so bad, what would YOU do about it?

Dye it again, obviously.

Do they even sell dye here?

Not that I've seen, but they do sell hydrogen peroxide and ammonia.

... Hydrogen peroxide and ammonia? _{[Naturally Heather had never done things the straight-up-combine-household-chemicals way.]}

What did you think was in your magical little hair-bleaching kits?

... Well I... guess I didn't look at the ingredients too closely...

Here's a hint: it's ammonia and peroxide.

[Wouldn't you know, Liquid happened to have just those two things in his pack? For completely unrelated reasons, of course.]

_{[She reached over and gave his shoulder a half-hearted shove.]}

I figured that out on my own two seconds ago, dorkwad. Anyway, if you're so knowledgeable, why don't you help me?

Because you hadn't asked yet.

[He started fishing through his pack for the bottles.] But since you're in such desperate need of it, I'll help you.

_{[She stuck out her tongue like the mature human being that she was.]}

I'm not THAT desperate! But hey, it's always better if someone else does it, anyway.

_{[Harry had always helped her do it at home (not that he was that good at it), at least until she'd started going to an actual hairdresser for it. ... And. Y'know. Until he died.]}

[Liquid was a lot better at it than Harry was-- he actually knew what he was doing.]

[indulgently] Of course you aren't.

[He mixed the chemicals in a spare cup, and took out a brush that he had gotten to use specifically for dyeing hair. He was able to judge the ratio of liquids he needed to match her shade of blond with just a glance.]

_{[... All of which just led Heather to further believe that he was a prettyboy. C: ..... seriously was that a specific hair-dye brush.]}

So-- right here, on the docks? _{[CITY-GIRL WAS USED TO AT LEAST HAVING A TOWEL AND A CHAIR OR SOMETHING. But hey, she could dig it.]}

It will work faster if you expose it to direct sunlight.

[So yes, right here.]

All you'll have to do is rinse it out after... hm. Maybe twenty minutes or so.

[And yes, it was a brush specifically for hair dyeing. Like the kind you find in salons.]

... Guess it beats sittin' in front of a mirror. _{[Heather hated mirrors...]}

And guess after twenty minutes it's the end of my quiet introspection time, then. _{[Which was all for the best, she'd carried on brooding long enough by this point.]}

... Hey, is that a salon brush?

If you'd like it to.

[He started to get to work on her hair, brushing the mixture into her roots.]

I wouldn't know. [Actually, that was truthful-- he'd never been into a salon in his life.]

_{[She ducked her head to make it a little easier. Not that she really needed to-- he was quite a bit taller than her.]}

Hnn hn, sure.

Anyway, it's handy.

If I didn't know better, I'd think you kept stuff like that around for your OWN hair.

_{[SHE'S ONTO YOU LIQUID.]}

You're unusually pensive today.

[HE'S ONTO YOU TOO, HEATHER.]

[To his credit, he didn't miss a beat. He could come up with a lie right on the spot and deliver it like gospel truth.]

Not at all. My hair is naturally blond, though perhaps I'll admit that the sun has bleached it a shade or two lighter. I have the peroxide for my med kit and the ammonia for purifying water.

_{[O-OH SHIT-- SHE WON'T TELL IF HE WON'T! ... naaaah she totally would. But still.]}

I was just thinking out here. Nothin' epic. I can't be kickin' ass 24-7 after all. _{[She injects that usual playful tone into her voice, but it is definitely a little more subdued than normal.]}

Still doesn't explain the brush. What's that for?