76. [Accidental Video/Text/Action for Olivine]

[foolishwren]

[The feed opens in a decidedly innocent fashion. It's jauntily wobbling back and forth as its holder walks, and the screen is filled by a big blue :D face, backed by an even bluer sky. ... And the occasional waving green tips from the sand dunes he's passing. Yes, Butch the Quagsire is on the beach, waddling happily down to the shore with Heather's

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[her_mouse_jesty]

[Eventually, a new shadow drapes over her. It's Minnie, standing over Heather, black hair nearly in Heather's face.]

Hello, dear.

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[foolishwren]

[--AH WHAT, HAIR-- oh.]

[At first Heather looks mildly surprised, but then her expression sinks back into that sort of ... blank look.]

... Oh... um, hey...

[... Usually she at least makes an attempt to smile when she talks to Minnie, no matter what might be going on at the time. But today she doesn't.]

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[her_mouse_jesty]

[She squats down a little, hugging her knees.]

Is something the matter?

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[foolishwren]

[A very small grimace... then she sits up with a small groan. It's one thing while she's alone, but with other people around... right now... lying on her back just feels too vulnerable. Even if she's literally talking to the most non-threatening person in all of Johto.]

I, uh...

It's not important.

[... Well, of course it was-- to her. But...]

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[her_mouse_jesty]

[She sits down properly now, smoothing down her dress.]

It's you, Heather, of course it's important. You're always important to me.

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[foolishwren]

[... Man, if she'd known as a little kid that in a decade or so, one of the beloved cartoon characters from all those old taped Disney shorts her father had recorded for her would be sitting next to her and telling her that her problems were important...]

[Drawing a knee up to her chest to rest her chin on, she cracks a small smile, despite herself.]

Yeah, but everybody's important to you.

[It's not said bitterly or like some kind of typical teenage accusation-- her tone is fond.]

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[her_mouse_jesty]

[Oh, you're not getting out of that this easily. She makes a little pout.]

Not everybody! There are people here I don't even know. And I don't like the Officer Jennys too much.

[see? totally counts.]

Now if I was looking sad, and you asked me what was wrong, and I said it was nothing, I bet you'd keep poking me until I said what was going on.

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[foolishwren]

[Okay, okay... she's kind of a hypocrite.]

[She laughs a little, quietly.]

Okay, I get your point...

[She trails off for a second or two, licking her lips hesitantly.]

It's... I'll be fine.

... My past just... caught up with me a little, that's all.

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[her_mouse_jesty]

[Minnie can be a tad oblivious, but even she can put 2 and 2 together. Her frown loosens into worry lines, and she leans in a little, making her voice a slight whisper.]

... Someone from your world is here? Is it an enemy?

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[foolishwren]

[Heather swallows.]

[It's hard... opening up about this. What consequences would it have? Would she have to worry about the people she told potentially making things worse, whether they meant to or not?]

[... But then again... out of all her friends, all the people she knows... Minnie may just be the one person she can probably rely on not to do anything rash.]

[All the same, she's silent for awhile, gazing straight ahead with an unreadable expression. When she finally speaks... it's in a low, dull tone.]

The woman who killed my father is in Johto.

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[her_mouse_jesty]

[Let's make this clear - she didn't know her father had 'died'. So the shock of this is twice as hard, and it also answers a lot of questions.

Her mouth is open, but nothing comes out. What can she possibly say? The usual 'everything will be okay' doesn't seem to work here. But Heather needs help. So Minnie does the first thing that comes to mind.

She launches herself forward, wrapping her arms around Heather, hugging her as close and tight as she can make it. She's very light, but the two bodies may or may nor tip over due to how speedily she threw herself at her friend.]

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[foolishwren]

[Yeah, it's... while it's hardly the first (or worst) reason for Heather's many inner demons... it's pretty telling.]

[Although Heather rocks dangerously sideways under impact, it'd seem she was probably prepared for the hug... or at least for Minnie to react with a whole lot of emotion. She braces herself accordingly and remains on the table, even extending an arm around Minnie in return.]

[It's true, 'Everything will be okay' DOESN'T really work, even though everything probably will be. Because even if bringing about the death of Harry Mason had probably been the WORST thing Claudia had done to Heather... it was far from the only thing.]

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[her_mouse_jesty]

[She clings tight to her, needing to make sure Heather knew she wasn't alone, that people cared, and, most importantly, that those evil actions wouldn't be repeated. In fact, if possible, as time goes on her grip goes tighter. Her face can't be seen at this angle, and her voice is a little shaky as she speaks.]

Her name... I n-need her name...

[She swallows. No, she won't go out for revenge, no matter how tempting that can be.]

... Someone like that... People must be warned against her.

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[foolishwren]

[All that squeezing is almost painful, but... Heather doesn't mind so much. It does its job... in a way that sometimes could work better than any words could.]

[And she squeezes back... not as strongly, no-- more tentatively. But she at least wants the gesture to be returned.]

... She... won't hurt anybody. Probably.

[It had been no violent, hot-blooded murder... it had been personal. Out of character. And yet, out of all the terrible things Claudia had done, it was probably the only thing she hadn't felt bad about...]

She thinks this is... well, it doesn't matter what she thinks.

She won't hurt anybody.

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[her_mouse_jesty]

[That 'probably' isn't exactly the most assuring thing in the world.]

But, Heather...!

[But Minnie stops herself. This is no time to demand things of Heather. Not to mention Heather knows this murderer better, and can be the person to make such calls. So Minnie'll reluctantly let it go... for now. She pulls a hand back to wipe her eyes - yes, she's begun tearing up. The idea of someone hurting Heather is enough to bring her to tears.]

... If you say so... Please be careful... I know this may not mean much, I know everyone thinks I can be weak, b-but... if something happens, if anything happens... Tell me. I want to help you if I get the chance. I will protect you, and your father, and your friends.

[This is not a hopeful wish or a fact. This is a declaration. She will not let anything happen to her precious subjects. Her precious family.]

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[foolishwren]

[No, it's not... but as much as Heather hates Claudia... can never forgive Claudia... no matter how horrific that awful night when she'd lost her father and her normal life in one go had been, she still knew better. It had been so much more complicated than a simple killer hurting people.]

[She nods. Her own eyes are dry, but the look on her face seems to suggest that... she'd already done a bit of crying over this. Probably more than a bit.]

... Yeah.

I know. And... I will.

... Thanks.

[She reaches up with her free arm and rubs at the back of her neck, looking down at the sandy grass below the bench.]

... Her name is Claudia Wolf.

[The irony that that name is the sort of name Minnie would consider normal isn't totally lost on her... and neither is the part where 'Wolf' might sound like a rather threatening connotation to her, either.]