035. Video (Action for those who might be around the Azalea gym after the battle)
[ooc: Backdated to earlier on the 14th.]
[When the PokeGear comes on, all it shows at first is a dizzying view of the dirt and pebble as Heather walks, fiddling with the grip on the device until she can hold it up to show the slightly-pudgy Growlithe trotting alongside her, pink tongue lolling out.]
Okay, Cooj.
As of twenty minutes from now, we are officially free.
No more warrant, no more hiding out, no more nothing. Our slates will be wiped clean. What do you say to that?
WOOF!
Truer words never spoken.
[There, the motion suddenly stopped and the camera swiveled around and upwards to show that they had arrived at their destination. Cue worm's-eye view of the front facade of the Azalea Town Gym, crowned with a nice blue sky. Heather couldn't have asked for a better morning for her warrant to expire.]
[... Except that it apparently wasn't expired yet? ... Wait, then why was she in town? ..... Oh no. Heather. No.]
All right, ladies and gents, it's time for me to blow this popsicle stand and get outta here. But first, there's oooone last thing I gotta do.
[The camera turned back down to Cujo, whose tail was waggling furiously.]
All right, Cooj. What's our strategy?
WOOF!
That's right, be badass mofos. Are we gonna pull that strategy off?
WUFF WOOF!
Damn right we're gonna pull it off. The rest of the guys might not be with us right now, but you and me can handle it. Let's do this!
Now say hi to all the beautiful men and women out here who might be watching this.
[Cujo responded with another resounding WOOF, punctuating it with a little hop of the front legs and flop of his overgrown mane.]
That's my good boy.
Now let's kick some ass.
[The doors opened.]
[Bugsy was a pretty chill dude. Which wasn't too surprising, because... c'mon. Bugs. There was something just sort of relaxing about the concept of a boy and his dog giant killer praying mantis relaxing together on a nice bright morning with sunlight shining in through the big Gym windows.]
[Too bad he wouldn't be able to relax for long.]
[The camera jiggled insistently from where Heather was keeping it propped on her shoulder. She threw out one pointing arm in a cliche I CHALLENGE YOU pose. Because... let's be honest. You all know you've wanted to do that at least once in your life.]
Hey! Hey you!
[Bugsy looked up from his book and sized her up with a slightly exasperated look on his face. She couldn't much blame him. It was probably near his lunch break. He looked her up and down, then paused, one brow arching.]
... Aren't you one of the people the police put a warning out about a couple weeks ago?
[Heather paused. UM.]
Uhhh.... for the sake of this conversation, no.
[... Bugsy glanced at the big clock on the wall-- one of those stadium ones that every Gym had.]
... Uh. [Awkward smile.] ... You do know those warrants expire in about twenty minutes, right?
Yeah, but... where's the fun in waiting?
[... Bugsy considered this, then smiled in a half-amused, half-"... really?" fashion as he got up, brushing grass off the seat of his shorts.]
You want to battle me, then?
[Heather grinned a toothy grin that wasn't visible on-camera, but you could hear it plain and clear in her voice.]
Well I'm sure not here as a tourist!
WOOF!
... And neither is he. [She jerked the camera at Cujo.]
All right, but... don't blame me if someone with a police badge walks in here during the battle...
Heh, like that'd happen... [What reason would the police have to come into a Gym, pshaw.]
[Bugsy reached to his bag and withdrew a Pokeball, weighing it briefly in his hand before hurling it high in the air.]
SCIZOR! Swords Dance!
[Sunlight from the windows glinted off of the chitinous red exoskeleton of the giant mantis as it emerged from the Pokeball, wings buzzing with the hum equivalent of a hundred bees' nests. Blades flashing, it dove.]
[But guess who did her research this time around?]
CUJO! FLAMETHROWER!
[The roar of fire and insect wings alike was deafening.]
[Viewers would be treated to a fairly impressive spectacle, actually-- much less cringe-worthy than the last time Heather had taken on a Gym Leader, which, while not as bad as it could have been, hadn't been very... uh, together. Let's just put it that way.]
[This time was different. Fire billowed and gleaming claws sliced through the air in such a bright, colorful display that it was honestly a little hard to tell where one attack ended and the other began. Pudgy little Cujo, despite his derp, was... well, actually, he was kind of kicking ass. The pup who'd pretty much single-handedly derailed the battle against Falkner wasn't gone, he was just.... better.]
[The minutes ticked by. Attacks were shouted, blows were exchanged, and despite the waves of heat rushing off of Cujo's fiery breath every time he opened his mouth, Heather held the camera steady. ... Or, well, as steady as she could hold it at all, being caught up in the general excitement of the battle and everything.]
[It was five minutes till noon and Bugsy was down to his last Pokemon-- the battle had been hot and fast. His Heracross was bracing itself with its claws held up in a fighting stance, awaiting the next blow with some trepidation. Cujo was panting and ruffled, but the doggy-grin on his face was huge and his eyes were bright. This was it! This was--]
[There was a whirr as the doors on the far side of the gym slid open.]
Bugsy, I know you're busy, but I wanted to get back to you on those zoning issues with the-- .......
[Officer Jenny stopped and stared.]
[Heather stared back.]
[They both looked at the clock. ... Four minutes.]
[They looked back at each other.]
[Bugsy shrugged.]
.............
YOU! S-stop in the name of the law!
[Jenny fumbled her whistle out of her pocket and blew into it before throwing out a slightly frantic arm and pointing at Heather, launching into a jog.]
[Heather spun on a heel and took off. The 'Gear fell from her hand and thumped gently onto the grass, where it displayed a fairly good view of-- .... um. One Heather Mason and an Officer Jenny who looked like she was still catching up with just exactly what she'd walked in on, engaged in a Yackety-Sax worthy chase scene that seemed to consist mainly of Heather running in circles and doing that really annoying fake-out dodge that everyone but you knew how to do in elementary school while playing tag, and Jenny trying to keep up.]
COOJ, KEEP GOING!
B-by law, I am required to put you under arrest!
In-- [Quick check.]-- three minutes you won't have to!
Heracross! Use MEGAHORN!
COOJ! Counter with Flame Wheel!
[View of the chase was briefly obscured by fire, and when the blast cleared, Heather was bounding precariously across the twangy boards that crisscrossed the pitfall obstacles in front of the Leader's little patch of grass at the back of the gym, with Jenny wobbling behind her, arms flailing.]
I order you to halt!
I will in two minutes!
[A flash of orange fur and indigo armor blurred past the screen as Cujo and Heracross tumbled past, Cujo's jaws locked around the bug Pokemon's impressive horn.]
[Heather was now climbing one of the big decorative spider-webs that hung on the wall like some kind of gangly blond monkey, with a distressed Officer Jenny clambering after her.]
Y-you're just making this harder on yourself!
[Heather reached the top of the webbing and stopped, twisting her head to see the clock again.]
Thirty seconds!
You don't have anywhere left to go, just-- ... oh.
[Jenny just sort of... sighed as Heather shoved off the wall and just... kind of jumped over the poor police officer's head, landing with a thud on the grass below. She sprang back to her feet like a jack-in-the-box and took off sprinting for the 'Gear again.]
Cooj, finish it!
[The big clock ticked onto 12:00 a split second before roaring flames once again billowed past the screen, which timed out before they had a chance to clear.]
~*~
[When the camera blips back on, it's back in Heather's hands, and a very flustered-looking Jenny is in front of her, flushed and trying her best to look stern.]
You're off the hook this time, young lady, but in the future don't expect to get off so easily!
Right, sorry, officer! It won't happen again.
Good! The law is nothing to be laughed at!
Of course not! Were we laughing, Cooj?
[Cujo showed that they had not been laughing by leaning heavily on Jenny's leg and staring up at her as though she was the most incredible thing he had ever seen. But considering this was his default expression when he looked at anyone, that wasn't saying much.]
[She sighed.]
All right, all right... but we'll be keeping an eye on you from here on out. Don't slip up again, all right? .... Wh- ... is that thing recording?
Of course not, officer! We'll, uh, be leaving now. BYE.
[The feed promptly blips off, but not before viewers are treated to a view of Heather's hand, flashing this little beauty at it.]
[When the PokeGear comes on, all it shows at first is a dizzying view of the dirt and pebble as Heather walks, fiddling with the grip on the device until she can hold it up to show the slightly-pudgy Growlithe trotting alongside her, pink tongue lolling out.]
Okay, Cooj.
As of twenty minutes from now, we are officially free.
No more warrant, no more hiding out, no more nothing. Our slates will be wiped clean. What do you say to that?
WOOF!
Truer words never spoken.
[There, the motion suddenly stopped and the camera swiveled around and upwards to show that they had arrived at their destination. Cue worm's-eye view of the front facade of the Azalea Town Gym, crowned with a nice blue sky. Heather couldn't have asked for a better morning for her warrant to expire.]
[... Except that it apparently wasn't expired yet? ... Wait, then why was she in town? ..... Oh no. Heather. No.]
All right, ladies and gents, it's time for me to blow this popsicle stand and get outta here. But first, there's oooone last thing I gotta do.
[The camera turned back down to Cujo, whose tail was waggling furiously.]
All right, Cooj. What's our strategy?
WOOF!
That's right, be badass mofos. Are we gonna pull that strategy off?
WUFF WOOF!
Damn right we're gonna pull it off. The rest of the guys might not be with us right now, but you and me can handle it. Let's do this!
Now say hi to all the beautiful men and women out here who might be watching this.
[Cujo responded with another resounding WOOF, punctuating it with a little hop of the front legs and flop of his overgrown mane.]
That's my good boy.
Now let's kick some ass.
[The doors opened.]
[Bugsy was a pretty chill dude. Which wasn't too surprising, because... c'mon. Bugs. There was something just sort of relaxing about the concept of a boy and his dog giant killer praying mantis relaxing together on a nice bright morning with sunlight shining in through the big Gym windows.]
[Too bad he wouldn't be able to relax for long.]
[The camera jiggled insistently from where Heather was keeping it propped on her shoulder. She threw out one pointing arm in a cliche I CHALLENGE YOU pose. Because... let's be honest. You all know you've wanted to do that at least once in your life.]
Hey! Hey you!
[Bugsy looked up from his book and sized her up with a slightly exasperated look on his face. She couldn't much blame him. It was probably near his lunch break. He looked her up and down, then paused, one brow arching.]
... Aren't you one of the people the police put a warning out about a couple weeks ago?
[Heather paused. UM.]
Uhhh.... for the sake of this conversation, no.
[... Bugsy glanced at the big clock on the wall-- one of those stadium ones that every Gym had.]
... Uh. [Awkward smile.] ... You do know those warrants expire in about twenty minutes, right?
Yeah, but... where's the fun in waiting?
[... Bugsy considered this, then smiled in a half-amused, half-"... really?" fashion as he got up, brushing grass off the seat of his shorts.]
You want to battle me, then?
[Heather grinned a toothy grin that wasn't visible on-camera, but you could hear it plain and clear in her voice.]
Well I'm sure not here as a tourist!
WOOF!
... And neither is he. [She jerked the camera at Cujo.]
All right, but... don't blame me if someone with a police badge walks in here during the battle...
Heh, like that'd happen... [What reason would the police have to come into a Gym, pshaw.]
[Bugsy reached to his bag and withdrew a Pokeball, weighing it briefly in his hand before hurling it high in the air.]
SCIZOR! Swords Dance!
[Sunlight from the windows glinted off of the chitinous red exoskeleton of the giant mantis as it emerged from the Pokeball, wings buzzing with the hum equivalent of a hundred bees' nests. Blades flashing, it dove.]
[But guess who did her research this time around?]
CUJO! FLAMETHROWER!
[The roar of fire and insect wings alike was deafening.]
[Viewers would be treated to a fairly impressive spectacle, actually-- much less cringe-worthy than the last time Heather had taken on a Gym Leader, which, while not as bad as it could have been, hadn't been very... uh, together. Let's just put it that way.]
[This time was different. Fire billowed and gleaming claws sliced through the air in such a bright, colorful display that it was honestly a little hard to tell where one attack ended and the other began. Pudgy little Cujo, despite his derp, was... well, actually, he was kind of kicking ass. The pup who'd pretty much single-handedly derailed the battle against Falkner wasn't gone, he was just.... better.]
[The minutes ticked by. Attacks were shouted, blows were exchanged, and despite the waves of heat rushing off of Cujo's fiery breath every time he opened his mouth, Heather held the camera steady. ... Or, well, as steady as she could hold it at all, being caught up in the general excitement of the battle and everything.]
[It was five minutes till noon and Bugsy was down to his last Pokemon-- the battle had been hot and fast. His Heracross was bracing itself with its claws held up in a fighting stance, awaiting the next blow with some trepidation. Cujo was panting and ruffled, but the doggy-grin on his face was huge and his eyes were bright. This was it! This was--]
[There was a whirr as the doors on the far side of the gym slid open.]
Bugsy, I know you're busy, but I wanted to get back to you on those zoning issues with the-- .......
[Officer Jenny stopped and stared.]
[Heather stared back.]
[They both looked at the clock. ... Four minutes.]
[They looked back at each other.]
[Bugsy shrugged.]
.............
YOU! S-stop in the name of the law!
[Jenny fumbled her whistle out of her pocket and blew into it before throwing out a slightly frantic arm and pointing at Heather, launching into a jog.]
[Heather spun on a heel and took off. The 'Gear fell from her hand and thumped gently onto the grass, where it displayed a fairly good view of-- .... um. One Heather Mason and an Officer Jenny who looked like she was still catching up with just exactly what she'd walked in on, engaged in a Yackety-Sax worthy chase scene that seemed to consist mainly of Heather running in circles and doing that really annoying fake-out dodge that everyone but you knew how to do in elementary school while playing tag, and Jenny trying to keep up.]
COOJ, KEEP GOING!
B-by law, I am required to put you under arrest!
In-- [Quick check.]-- three minutes you won't have to!
Heracross! Use MEGAHORN!
COOJ! Counter with Flame Wheel!
[View of the chase was briefly obscured by fire, and when the blast cleared, Heather was bounding precariously across the twangy boards that crisscrossed the pitfall obstacles in front of the Leader's little patch of grass at the back of the gym, with Jenny wobbling behind her, arms flailing.]
I order you to halt!
I will in two minutes!
[A flash of orange fur and indigo armor blurred past the screen as Cujo and Heracross tumbled past, Cujo's jaws locked around the bug Pokemon's impressive horn.]
[Heather was now climbing one of the big decorative spider-webs that hung on the wall like some kind of gangly blond monkey, with a distressed Officer Jenny clambering after her.]
Y-you're just making this harder on yourself!
[Heather reached the top of the webbing and stopped, twisting her head to see the clock again.]
Thirty seconds!
You don't have anywhere left to go, just-- ... oh.
[Jenny just sort of... sighed as Heather shoved off the wall and just... kind of jumped over the poor police officer's head, landing with a thud on the grass below. She sprang back to her feet like a jack-in-the-box and took off sprinting for the 'Gear again.]
Cooj, finish it!
[The big clock ticked onto 12:00 a split second before roaring flames once again billowed past the screen, which timed out before they had a chance to clear.]
~*~
[When the camera blips back on, it's back in Heather's hands, and a very flustered-looking Jenny is in front of her, flushed and trying her best to look stern.]
You're off the hook this time, young lady, but in the future don't expect to get off so easily!
Right, sorry, officer! It won't happen again.
Good! The law is nothing to be laughed at!
Of course not! Were we laughing, Cooj?
[Cujo showed that they had not been laughing by leaning heavily on Jenny's leg and staring up at her as though she was the most incredible thing he had ever seen. But considering this was his default expression when he looked at anyone, that wasn't saying much.]
[She sighed.]
All right, all right... but we'll be keeping an eye on you from here on out. Don't slip up again, all right? .... Wh- ... is that thing recording?
Of course not, officer! We'll, uh, be leaving now. BYE.
[The feed promptly blips off, but not before viewers are treated to a view of Heather's hand, flashing this little beauty at it.]