victory_road

Good evening Johto, Kanto, and the Sevii Islands.

[The video feed is focused on Lust, in front of a nondescript wall. She's looking a bit...different in this broadcast - wearing an old fashioned white button up blouse and a fashionable pair of glasses, with her hair pinned up on top of her head.]

[She's in her Miss Fitz persona.]

[Occasionally, throughout the broadcast, a large eyed Ekans' head wanders into frame before being hauled off by an unseen helper.]

The month of Halloween has come again, and that means it's getting to be time for Miss Fitz's Story Hour to put out our spooktacular radio special. I'm delighted to announce that this year's production is an entirely original anthology written by myself - Miss Fitz - and my new partner, Mr. Ease.

[Because Lust isn't one to abandon a clever theme.]

If you're new to our community, I produce a radio show over this network. While we're an amateur production, we've been making shows for a few years now and put a great deal into every production. But we need you. If you've any interest in volunteering your time, please contact me. We especially need anyone willing to lend their voice as acting talent. And I use the word 'volunteer' on purpose, there's no profit being made here, we simply enjoy what we do.

I hope to hear from you...and that you'll be waiting to hear what we have in store.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

_{[Henry clears his throat. This is the first time he's so METICULOUSLY dialed in Lust's gear number. Usually all he has to do is hold his Poke'Gear wrong to call her. Still, the strange number chimes on her screen.]}

I'd...like to audition.

[....that voice...]

[Lust pauses, lips pursed, eyeing her 'gear.]

Who is this?

_{[It's hard to keep the smile out of his voice. He's no good at acting mysterious on purpose.]}

Lust, it's me. I'm home.

[Lust simply exhales loudly, a part of her unwilling to believe it until she can look Henry in the eye and feel him with her own two hands, but most of her stricken shake-legged with relief.]

Where are you?

We've...missed you greatly in this bit of time you've been away.

Cherrygrove! I'm setting out soon--soon as I get my strength back. It's a long story.

_{[Lust telling him she missed him makes him misty-eyed all over again.]}

I missed...

_{[Henry pauses. No he didn't. He hadn't even remembered his friends back in that awful place.]}

You know what I mean. Everything's sort of...mixed up in my head. Out of order. I was only home for a couple of hours but everything is so fresh again and so are the past seven years here--you know the feeling when you wake up into a different dream from another dream? It's like that.

I did a lot of that back home actually.

Heather and Envy are league champions now. That's not a dream right?

You missed us when you were aware there was something to be missed. I've never experienced the particular shock of leaving and returning, but I understand memories that were inaccessible making themselves suddenly known. Trying to reconcile memories of two lives that while twined and the same...somehow aren't.

No, that's not a dream. They'd been training extensively these last few months in preparation.

_{[Henry puffs out a big sigh.]}

You get it. I'm glad. It makes me feel sort of guilty. I know I shouldn't.

_{[Hennry suddenly flips on the video. There he is! Scruffy again, a little more baby-faced than he had been when he left, but it's him. His voice is strained. Lust described it well. He's struggling to sort between what has become two lives to be the Henry he grew into here. Sudden social anxiety relapse sucks.]}

It makes me want to try for badges, y'know? I've been here all this time and never even tried. I didn't think I could but I--I did some things back there, Lust!

I do. The guilt is normal, illogical as it is. But those are emotions, I suppose.

[It's good to see his face. He loos younger, which is unexpected, but there he is.]

I am. Trying for badges, finally. I've gotten two so far.

And I am sure that you're capable of great things, Henry. Are you...alright?

[She won't push if he doesn't want to talk about anything that happened on his return home, she never does, but she'll extend the offer just in case.]

Hm? Oh, yeah. It's just...like you said.

_{[He stares down at the Poke'Gear in his hands and for a long time he doesn't say anything. A classic Henry pause. And then]}

Don't take this the wrong way but your hair is still really scary and I'm glad that it's up right now.

It's understandable. I simply mean if you need to unburden your soul any, I'm a sympathetic ear.

[And then she blinks. Oh, this is Classic Henry right here...]

My hair? Oh...yes, your odd phobias. Sometimes I have difficulty keeping track. I don't know how to make my hair less 'scary', I'm sorry.

[While the apology likely sounded flippant, simply due to subject matter, it was an honest apology. Lust has no idea how to make her hair more comfortable for Henry.]

_{[Henry rubs an arm with his free hand.]}

I don't know if I'd call it a phobia...just, from my perspective, a girl tried to kill me with her hair just a few days ago. I want to work on that though.

...Yes, I suppose that would leave one with an aversion.

[A part of her is morbidly curious to ask 'how', but she bites her tongue.]

I'm sorry. If it helps, I've never once utilized my hair as a weapon - I've been told stroking it is quite soothing, actually. Like petting a cat.

_{[Henry sucks in a breath and lifts a calloused finger.]}

--something I also have an aversion to thanks to my adventure.

_{[And he holds that look for a moment before breaking into mild, hoarse laughter.]}

Man. I'll just have to get used to it. Immersion therapy I think is what it's called. Remind me and I'll give your head a pat next time I'm home.

Dear Lord.

[Lust blinks. She doesn't mean to react, but it only makes her wonder more about what in the world the man went through back home.]

Should we make a list of all the things you've garnered fresh unpleasant associations with? I do want you to feel comfortable in your own home.

At least there's plenty of cats to immerse yourself in, should you wish to. Your namesake Henry the Espurr - or Meowstic, actually - has quite the little family now.

Lust, there's not room on the fridge for a list like that. Sometimes I don't even realize what they are until they jump out in front of me. But one day...I'm going to be able to stand the smell of chocolate milk again. Right now I think it'd make me more angry than sick.

_{[He shakes his head.]}

Anyway...I can tell you about it when I get home. I wasn't joking about that audition by the way. Well. At first I was, but now I think I'm not.

Whatever it is we can do to help. You're... one of us. We take care of our own.

You hardly have to audition, Henry.

Hah, okay then. I'll trust you to give me a part you think I can do. I've never done anything like it before but I haven't done a lot of things.

The Old Henry missed out on a lot.

It's not difficult at all. I think you'll have fun with it, to be quite honest.

[Never one to be overtly emotional, Lust isn't letting on how pleased she is that Henry's volunteering his talents.]

We'll make sure that the New Henry doesn't.

_{[However, Henry doesn't have much choice but to be. A wobbly smile crosses his face and looks sort of out-of-place.]}

Yeah. Thanks.

[Lust clears her throat, glancing away from the screen for a moment.]

You're welcome.

Don't hesitate to keep in touch.

Video

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]

[Voice]-- [Video]

[Video]

[Video]

[Video]

Re: [Video]

[Video]

[Video]

[Video]

[Video]

[Video]

[Video]

[Video]

[Video]

[Video]