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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action

[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.

action

[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...]

[video]

[philanthrotaku]

Heather?

...What's wrong?

[video]

[foolishwren]

[Oh mannn, she knew this would happen. Maybe she should have forced a smile or some goofy joke while she took the 'Gear away from Zilla before turning it off...]

Nothing.

[... yeah, because that's... real convincing.]

... Nothing you should be worried about.

[She hopes.]

[video]

[philanthrotaku]

...You and I both know that if I was the one that said that, you'd never leave me alone until I admitted what was wrong.

Is that guy from the cult causing trouble already? Because you know there's no way Liquid and I are going to let him get away with that.

[video]

[foolishwren]

[... Despite herself, the stony facade cracks into a tiny smile. Because... yeah. He's right, and she can't deny the hypocrisy.]

No, it's not... him.

... Surprisingly.

[Even now, there's still a twinge of humor in her voice as she says it. Not even the end of the world could make Heather lose her sense of irony.]

video.

[miniworth]

[ It's Papa! Tal is more than excited to see her Papashire on the camera, though she goes a little quiet when she realizes that Big Mouth (as she will refer to him in Pokéspeak) takes the Gear away from Butch. She dejectedly returns the Gear to Miles who, watching Heather, will raise an eyebrow at her grouchiness.

He sends a video response a few minutes later. ]

He didn't do anything yet, did he?

video.

[foolishwren]

[... She pauses before answering. When her feed pops on, she's rearranged her face into the usual casual smile she often wears.]

Aside from being annoying?

Nah. Nothing like that.

video.

[miniworth]

What's wrong?

video.

[foolishwren]

Nothing you need to worry about, buddy.

[Video]

[show_my_cannons]

[Well, that's not the Heather he's used to seeing. And, with a lack of anything else to do, considering his health, he pulls up his video feed in return.]

Hey. You okay?

[Video]

[foolishwren]

[Yeah. It's not.]

[With each new voice ringing in, Heather cringes-- she knew this was gonna happen, dammit 'Zilla... but all the same, the feed flicks back on anyway. A year ago she might have ignored all the questions as to her well-being-- just gone off by herself for awhile. But things have changed and she knows that doesn't work.]

Hey, um...

... No.

No, not really.

... But I will be.

[Video | Private]

[show_my_cannons]

Hmn.

[He goes silent for a second, messing around with the gear. There. Now it's secure.]

... Anything you want to say about it?

[Video | Private]

[foolishwren]

[Ooh. Now there's a tough question.]

[There's a LOT that she wants to say... hell, there's a lot that she's already said. Admittedly, most of that had been to the subject of contention herself. ... And to the ocean. ... But neither of those had provided her with much satisfaction, and to be honest, Heather just wasn't entirely sure how to deal with that. She'd screamed herself raw at the horizon that night and it hadn't made her feel better. Usually it at least helped a little.]

... I...

... I don't know.

[Because unlike with Vincent... she couldn't just say the biggest harm done to her had essentially been 'EXTREME IRRITATION' and therefore keep her friends (Ironhide included) from ripping him limb from limb on principal.]

[Claudia Wolf had done so, so much worse to her than that.]

[video]

[monochrome_mind]

...

It seems like your Totodile really likes the poke'gear. Is it common for him to steal it?

[video]

[foolishwren]

Huh?

... Oh. Yeah, he likes playin' with it.

I let him film stuff sometimes.

Re: [video]

[monochrome_mind]

Ah...It seems like he caught you at a bad time.

[He's quiet for a moment, unsure of what to say next.]

If you want, I can disconnect now. It doesn't seem like you're in the mood to talk and I'd hate to be a thorn in your side.

[video]

[foolishwren]

[A sort of mirthless chuckle.]

I guess he did.

[Then, at least trying to sound gracious, she adds--]

Might be best if you do.

Local superstition tells of the fact that I'm extremely unpleasant to talk to when I'm in a bad mood.

[... But it looks like not even a bad mood can extinguish her sense of humor, anyway.]