001. [Video/Action for Cherrygrove City]

[foolishwren]

<sub>[Heather didn't make any video posts during the long, long slog from the rocky slopes of Route 46 to the pleasant, nostalgic beaches of Cherrygrove.]

[That reason is because she and everybody else on the hike look like absolute shit.]

[Even after a VERY LONG shower (thank god for Pokemon Centers that virtually never run out of hot water), there's still grime on her skin. SHE CAN FEEL IT. But oh well, she's gotta make a video anyway. So here network, please accept for your consideration one (1) exhausted, disheveled Heather Mason in what is very obviously a generic T-shirt on loan from the Center itself.]

[Behind her is what everyone will no doubt recognize as a Center lobby-- a place she hasn't had to crash in in years.]</sub>

Well, that sucked.

Hey, everybody.

This is Heather, checkin' in along with Henry-- _{[She shifts the 'Gear to the right so that it will show a man lying facedown and completely still across multiple lobby chairs, still streaked in mud and being tentatively nosed at by a very small Phanpy.]}-- and Envy-- _{[She starts to shift the 'Gear to the left but is cut off with an indignant bark of "DON'T FILM ME."]}

--well, point is, we're alive.

Uh, Lust? We're gonna stay here-- or in the hotel if we can scrounge the money-- for the night, and then fly home in the morning.

And Tobias? I did wind up gettin' a couple of Blake's Pokemon-- uh, a Kingler and a Gallade. Didn't check their names, but they're there. So, I'll be takin' care of those unless he comes back, I guess.

_{[She lifts a hand to cover up a barely-stifled yawn-- there's still dirt under her nails.]}

So yeah I'm gonna go sleep forever now. Peace.

Comments

[action]

[exeggutorhead]

[Envy is likewise not sure he'll ever be clean again. Because a shower may have washed most of the grime off, but it sure didn't fix his hair. He looks halfway to Wrath Levels of rat's nest. Not even his attempts to pull it back had saved it (he's pretty sure that Heather's armband she'd given him as a makeshift tie may never be recovered).]

[When she moves the camera away, he goes right back to exhaustedly trying to pick a nasty tangle out of the ends, with limited success, and mutters angrily to himself:]

I'm not cutting my hair off.

[YOU HEAR HIM, HAIR? HE'S GOING TO BEAT THIS.]

[action]

[foolishwren]

_{[After she closes her 'Gear, she lets out a sigh and watches Envy struggle with his hair for a moment or two.]}

... Did you try conditioner?

_{[SHE'S SURE HE DID IF THERE WAS ANY AVAILABLE but might as well ask.]}

[action]

[exeggutorhead]

[The look he gives her is both mournful and very slightly exasperated. Of COURSE he used conditioner, what do you take him for??]

Yeah, but it didn't help much.

The stuff they have here isn't any good for this mess.

[action]

[foolishwren]

_{[She sighs.]}

... Here, let me try and help.

_{[She scoots over a bit. She's so unused to long hair that it's doubtful she CAN help, but four hands are better than one...?]}

... Oh, fuck, this is really snarled...

[action]

[exeggutorhead]

[Envy just nods, continuing to pick at the knot he's holding. Sadly.]

It hasn't been this bad since I first got here.

[Video]

[usedgravity]

Oh no, what happened to you three?

[Cue one very obviously new person in very obviously New Bark Town, but more importantly]

You can fly?

[Video]

[foolishwren]

_{[A groan.]}

That is a looong story, that involves bats, baby elephants, and blisters in places I don't wanna name.

_{[She drags a hand down her face, sucking in a deep, tired breath-- but then cracks one eye open to give Ochako a curious look. Then one corner of her mouth quirks up in a crooked smile.]}

Heh, you're new, huh?

Yeah, I have Pokemon that I can fly on. You probably will too if you stick around long enough.

[usedgravity]

Oh, geez - I'd heard the routes between towns were pretty messed up. I guess it's true.

[But hey, glad to see she can crack a smile. Ochako smiles brightly back]

Yeah, just got here! Well, a couple days ago anyway. But wow, I didn't know people could fly on pokemon... like, on a really big bird or something?

[foolishwren]

_{[It's kind of refreshing to see a newbie who isn't absolutely losing their shit. Not that waking up in an entirely different world doesn't kind of justify it, but you know, still. Nice breath of fresh air.]}

Yep.

Or a dragon.

Or a giant ghost robot with rocket feet.

This place is kind of weird, as I'm sure you've gathered.

I confess, I've mostly just got birds myself.

[Video]

[wing_attack]

[Tobias looks... slightly singed? The ends of his hair look terrible, at least.]

Oh, that's good. At least those are accounted for.

... But you look like you really need some sleep.

[Video]

[foolishwren]

... And you look like you need some aloe vera or something.

What happened, did you get on the wrong side of someone's Flame Burst?

[Video]

[wing_attack]

I'm okay. I was at Ilex Forest, and Joker decided that he wanted to solve the problem with fire.

A lot of fire.

[Video]

[foolishwren]

<sub>[... Joker? Isn't that Envy and Lust's boss?]

[THAT'S A LITTLE WORRYING.]</sub>

... O-oh.

... Well then.

I'm, uh, glad you weren't incinerated?

Video

[a_sin_for_him]

I can wire you the funds for a hotel.

Everything's fine at the house, it's not even damaged.

Video

[foolishwren]

Could you? We'd really appreciate it.

S'not like I don't have the cash, just... all that cash is presumably at the house, because it sure isn't here.

_{[She drags a hand down her face.]}

Good to hear about the house, though. We were a little worried.

Video

[a_sin_for_him]

It's fine, I've more than enough easily movable money. I'll simply contact the hotel nearest your location and take care of it.

It's perfectly fine, not even cosmetic damage.

Video

[foolishwren]

You're the best, Lust. Seriously.

_{[She'd been a little worried that they'd be stuck sleeping in the Center lobby. Not that it wouldn't still be a major upgrade from what they'd been doing every night for the last nine days, but still.]}

We're all looking forward to getting back. Especially Henry.

He... uh.

He's in an interesting place right now.

[video]

[quickattackjack]

Oh good, you made it! And in one piece it looks like!

[video]

[foolishwren]

Ugh, more or less... our sanity's in shambles, but I guess nobody lost any limbs.

[video]

[quickattackjack]

Well, who among us is really all there anymore?

[video]

[foolishwren]

I'd like to at least be a little more 'there' than I actually am at the moment.

If I'd been out in the mountains any longer, I'd probably have turned to cannibalism. Henry's lucky he's so gamey.

[action, before the post goes up]

[armoredsoul]

[Alphonse is waiting outside the Pokemon Center for the trio, his attention switching between a game on his Gear and keeping an eye out down the road for them. He got into town a few days ago, and he's been staying in the Center since then while he helps with crisis calls.]

[But finally when he looks up there's something worth taking note of, and he pockets the Gear to go jogging up to meet them.] Hey, there you--holy crap, you all look like hell.

[action]

[foolishwren]

--gee, thanks.

_{[She can't keep the dryness out of her voice as she says it, even as she gingerly makes her way to Al and gives him a limp, one-armed hug. She doesn't have the energy to deliver one of her usual full-throttle bearhugs and that alone says a lot about the ordeal they've just been through.]}

[action]

[exeggutorhead]

[Envy doesn't even respond, which also says a lot about what they've just gone through.]

[No, he just straight up ignores Al and walks right on by, his entire being focused on the doors of the Center as though if he stops moving he'll just keel right over.]

[His shoulder bumps into Al's on the way, but it's barely even a bodycheck and more it would take more effort to correct his path than not.]

[AND AWAY HE GOES, THROUGH THE DOORS.]

[BYE]

[action]

[no_ufo_ending]

_{[And here comes Henry, dead last on his long legs. However he does not wear a look of defeat. Oh no! His face is serene and his eyes stare out beyond Al as he approaches the boy. His face is streaked (deliberately) with mud and in one hand is a stick with a sock tied around one end. The sock has a little face made of rocks and more mud.]}

I don't feel like hell though...I feel free. At peace. I am one with nature. I accept death.