64. [Voice/Action for Goldenrod] Backdated to Friday/Thursdayish.

[foolishwren]

[It's probably been a week and a half or so since anybody's heard a whole lot from Heather's end of the line-- given the recent turn of events, coupled with catching up on things with her father, she just hasn't been talking much

Comments

[Audio]

[simple_toon]

HEATHER HEATHER HEATHER!!!!

[Audio]

[foolishwren]

[oh dear god]

[Heather WINCES and holds the 'Gear about a foot away from her ear. Because-- .... yeah, she can still hear him clear as day.]

Uh-- ... ahah... hi t'you too, Beckett....

Re: [Audio]

[simple_toon]

What took you so long slowpoke? Artemis and Beckett got here before youuuuuu~

[Audio]

[foolishwren]

[Well, she actually had gotten to Goldenrod in record time the first time around, but then she'd had to double back again... Regardless of her feelings about Violet City, there was no way she was just sitting around and waiting for her Dad to get all the way to Goldenrod.]

Wound up having to take care of some other stuff back there after all.

M'back now, though.

[psh action of course]

[ahokonakamori]

[Aoko saw that, Heather. And she has some bro-ing to do with you. A lot. So she'll just be going on over to the Pokemon Center to go say hiiiii]

Heather! You're back!

[AWRIIIIIIIIGHT]

[foolishwren]

[Heather, who was standing at the counter and looking over some pamphlets on Pokerus, looks over her shoulder at the sound of her own name curiously.]

[A smile pops onto her face when she sees who it is, though.]

Heeeey!

Long time, no see!

[Turning around to face Aoko, she leans on the counter with her elbows.]

Just got in about half an hour ago.

[AW YEAAAAAAAAAH]

[ahokonakamori]

[An even bigger smile comes on Aoko's face. She is the true Smiley. She goes over and gives you a niiiiice hug. Cause she knows you must miss Kay and Johan.]

Yeah, it's been a while. It's great to have you back!

[Action]

[foolishwren]

[HEATHER IS STARTING TO THINK THAT-- especially now that she's known Kaito long enough to see him go all grumpyface. But the nickname'll stick, she's gotten attached to it.]

[The hug catches Heather by surprise a little bit, but she returns it in her usual hearty one-of-the-guys fashion. She... didn't know Kay and Johan as well as she did Kaito, but... they were her pals, and she is sad that they're gone... but more worried for Kaito than for herself.]

Ahah, yeeeaah, it took a bit longer getting back than I thought it would... but I sure don't plan on goin' anywhere any time soon, so...!

[action] placeholder!

[bakaitoukid]

[He won't lie, he had been pretty darn worried about her after going so long with not hearing anything. But hey... after the disappearance of Kay and Johan, can anyone really blame him?

He actually doesn't get her message over the gear, so running into her at the hotel lobby is a complete coincidence. He has to do a double-take at first simply because it's been so long, but once he confirms it's Heather, he feels something inside of him lift for the first time in weeks.

It's so good to see a familiar face]

Heather?

[action] awwww yeeeaah

[foolishwren]

[Yeeeaah, sorry about that, buddy. :( She had some catching up to do with her dad and... not all of it was on happy events. But needless to say, she hadn't forgotten their conversation in the slightest-- so although bumping into him in the lobby is a total accident, she was definitely looking for him when it happened.]

[At the sound of his voice, she turns her head in surprise, but as soon as she spots him, a big ol' grin spreads across her face, which is still fairly filthy from the road.]

Nope. M'actually the Queen of England. You were pretty close, though.

[... Well she's found him! Which means it's time to get right down to business. Without waiting for a reply, she steps over and wraps her arms around him in a firm hug that seems to be confirming he's there just as much as it is just plain old embracing him. She missed you too, man. A lot.]

[action]

[bakaitoukid]

[He snorts and opens his mouth to come up with a smart reply to that, but the hug completely cuts him off before he has the chance to say anything. Even if Johan and Kay were the huggy types, and even if he had grown used to that fact over the months he had spent traveling with him, close physical proximity still wasn't something he did very often.

So needless to say, he stands there a bit awkwardly at first... before it finally strikes him to hug her back, his own arms twining awkwardly around her back and encompassing her tightly.

... almost a bit too tightly, as if he's hanging on and never planning on letting go. But hey... he lost two really good friends back to back. It would make sense that he'd cling tightly to the third out of fear of losing her, too]

[action]

[foolishwren]

[She doesn't mind the tightness in the slightest. It's probably pretty obvious that she's been wanting this hug for awhile and even if he hadn't returned it, she wasn't gonna take no for an answer. They'd both lost close friends in the past month... and like hell was she going to keep wasting opportunities to let one of the ones who was left know how she felt.]

[She doesn't bother pulling out of the hug before speaking-- she'll probably just stay in the embrace until he lets go.]

S'good to see you again, man.

[action]

[usednastyplot]

[Artemis hadn't contacted her earlier because, well, initially he wanted to give her a chance to actually arrive and see her immediate contacts but then his reason changed due to the fact that Beckett had already greeted her with enthusiasm and most likely did so on his behalf too so Artemis judged she'd had enough interactions with the Fowls today.

So he'll just be in the Center trying to Box an egg the size of a baby elephant.]

[action]

[foolishwren]

[And-- ... and she'll be staring at him for a moment before heading over. ... But only once she's sure Beckett is not in the immediate area, because she is exhausted and cannot handle small children bouncing off the walls at the moment.]

... Looks like the Easter Bunny was pretty nice to you this year.

[action]

[usednastyplot]

[He turns, face flashing with recognition before greets her with a look of irritation.]

That may be one way of putting it. Personally, I find it more inconvenient.

[His expression changes into a slight smile, at least he hopes it does. He's still not mastered this whole 'pleasant expressions' thing.]

It's good to see you, Heather. Was your journey a safe one?

[action]

[foolishwren]

Yeah, safe and slow.

[She hadn't wanted to rush her father-- besides, they'd had a lot to talk about during the trip.]

Nothing really eventful happened. S'always funny to watch a Steelix go through a bunch of Sudowoodo like bowling pins, though.

[She nods to the egg.]

So, any idea what's IN that thing?

video

[her_mouse_jesty]

... "Dad"?

Your father is here? How wonderful!

video

[foolishwren]

I-- hey, Minnie!

[BEEN AWHILE, CROCODILE.]

Yeah, he's-- ... he got here a few weeks ago. He's with me now.

[Minnie's seen Heather both happy and sad before, at least fleetingly-- but there's most definitely something in Heather's voice right now that's happier than any of Johto has probably ever heard it. It's subtle... but it's there.]

video

[her_mouse_jesty]

[And seeing Heather makes Minnie happy... she even says so.]

I'm so happy for you! I would have welcomed him properly, but things have been a little crazy on my end.

[tarantulas breaking her mind and minnie leaving breaking her heart and all.]

He must be such a good man to have raised such a good daughter.

video

[foolishwren]

[Wh-- ... well jeez.]

[Could be she's just sunburnt from all the outdoor traveling, but her cheeks look a little flushed. She laughs it off and scratches the back of her neck.]

Ahah, well-- ... he was always a better dad than I was a decent daughter, I'll say that much.

But anyway...

[Needless to say, she didn't see that Mickey had gone... Hell, the last time she'd talked to Minnie was that whole tickle-fight fiasco. Thank GOD enough time has passed since THAT one for Heather to not be all awkward about it anymore.]

How've YOU been? You still in Goldenrod or have you gone on to that Ecruteak place?